Administration of Justice: Females

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what discussions she has had since 1 December 2007 with the hon. Member for Liverpool, Garston in her role as the Ministry for Justice's Ministerial Champion for Women and Criminal Justice.

Barbara Follett: I take a close interest in women and criminal justice matters and have had regular discussions with my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice (Maria Eagle). I am also a member of the ministerial sub-group on women convened by her as the Ministry for Justice's Ministerial Champion for Women and Criminal Justice, and which held its first meeting on 23 January 2008.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Freedom of Information requests her Department received in each year since 2005; and how many of those requests were refused.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Government have published two annual reports that contain statistical information about how many requests have been received by monitored bodies (including central Government Departments) and how many have been refused. These reports can be found at the following address:
	http://www.dca.gov.uk/foi/reference/statisticsAndReports.htm
	Data is currently being collected across monitored bodies in order to produce the 2007 annual report and monitoring report for the fourth quarter of the year. However, monitoring reports for the first three quarters of 2007 can be found at the following address:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/freedomofinformation quarterly.htm

Departmental ICT

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) mobile telephones,  (b) personal digital assistants and  (c) laptop computers issued to departmental staff were reported (i) lost, (ii) missing and (iii) stolen since 2001.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government was created on 5 May 2006. The information in the table goes back to May 2002, and includes data for CLG's predecessor Department, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (which was formed on 29 May 2002) and its Agencies. The data requested prior to this date is not held centrally and therefore cannot be provided.
	
		
			  Status  Mobile phones  Digital assistants  Laptops 
			  2002-03
			 Lost 0 0 0 
			 Missing 0 0 0 
			 Stolen 0 0 2 
			  2003-04
			 Lost 1 0 0 
			 Missing 0 0 0 
			 Stolen 0 0 2 
			  2004-05
			 Lost 0 0 0 
			 Missing 0 0 0 
			 Stolen 0 0 2 
			  2005-06
			 Lost 0 0 0 
			 Missing 0 0 0 
			 Stolen 0 0 (1 )7 
			 Lost 0 0 0 
			  2006-07
			 Missing 0 0 0 
			 Stolen 2 0 7 
			  2007-08
			 Lost 0 0 0 
			 Missing 0 0 0 
			 Stolen 2 0 8 
			 (1) This includes 2 x laptops from the Fire Service College and recorded as lost at the time of the answer of 13 February 2006,  Official Report, column 1616W, to the Member for Monmouth (David T.C. Davies) but subsequently reported as stolen. 
		
	
	The official data on each of the laptops was not encrypted, because none of the information was classified. However, each laptop was password protected.
	This answer does not include Government Office for the Region who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Floods: Finance

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding for flood relief and recovery in addition to that delivered through the local government settlement she will make available to Surrey County Council in 2008-09.

John Healey: In the aftermath of last summer's exceptional and widespread floods we have made available up to £71.8 million to date to assist the affected regions and help those in greatest need.
	The Department of Communities and Local Government has no plans in place at present to make any further funding available to Surrey county council for flood relief and recovery in 2008-09 in addition to that delivered through the local government settlement. If and when future emergencies occur the Government make available financial assistance to help local authorities deal with the aftermath.

Homelessness

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homeless people there were in  (a) England,  (b) each English region,  (c) Tees Valley district and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each of the last 10 years; and how many of these were under 25 years old.

Iain Wright: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level, in respect of households rather than people. This information includes the number of households accepted by local authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty. The duty owed to an accepted household is to secure suitable accommodation. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
	National and regional data on acceptances and temporary accommodation over the last 10 years are published in our quarterly statistical release on Statutory Homelessness, in tables 3 and 7. Key data (including acceptances and temporary accommodation) are shown at local authority level in Supplementary Tables accompanying the release. These are also published on our website and placed in the Library each quarter. The latest release was published on 10 December 2007 and contains data for the period up to July to September 2007.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
	Since 1998, information has also been collected on the number of people who sleep rough—that is, those who are literally roofless on a single night—and these are also published on our website, nationally and by local authority:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/homelessness/publicationsabouthomelessness/roughsleepingstatistics/
	A table summarising homelessness figures for each local authority for the past 10 years, including (a) the total number of households accepted as owed the main homelessness duty, (b) the total number of households in temporary accommodation and (c) the mid-year estimates of the number of rough sleepers, was placed in the Library of the House on 8 October 2007, as part of the answer given to the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice).
	The local authorities comprising the Tees valley District are Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees. The constituency of Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland falls within two local authorities: Middlesbrough, and Redcar and Cleveland.
	Data on acceptances by age-band of applicant is available from the April-June 2006 quarter onwards, and is provided in the Statistical Release at the national level (table 10(b)). The first age-band is those applicants who are aged between 16 and 24 years old (all applicants must be 16 or over).
	A table showing acceptances by age-band of applicant by local authority and region has been deposited in the Library of the House.
	No such age breakdown is collected for households in temporary accommodation, or the rough sleeper estimates.

Housing: Energy

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) planned expenditure is and  (b) expenditure to date has been on providing free energy performance certificates; how many have been subsidised to date; and what the target is for the number to be subsidised.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Beckenham the (Mrs. Lait) on 30 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1163W and 10 October 2007,  Official Report, column 663 W.

Housing: Low Incomes

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many tenants in social housing were evicted in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Flint: We do not have the information on how many tenants were evicted over the last 10 years. However, as part of the Housing Strategy and Statistical Appendix returns, Communities and Local Government have asked local authority landlords in England to submit data on tenants in social housing who were evicted. This was commenced for the period 2005-06. This data was considered not to be of a reliable quality. We are currently assessing the quality of the data returns for 2006-07.
	The Housing Corporation collects data on evictions. According to its Regulatory and Statistical Returns for the periods 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07, the number of evictions from registered social landlord properties are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004-05 13,370 
			 2005-06 12,145 
			 2006-07 11,384

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much and what proportion of  (a) aggregate external finance and  (b) local authority revenue expenditure will be ring-fenced in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09 (A) including and (B) excluding the dedicated schools grant element.

John Healey: Including dedicated schools grant (DSG), the level of ring-fencing of aggregate external finance (AEF) to local authorities is £36.0 billion or 53.9 per cent. in 2007-08 and will be £36.0 billion or 51.8 per cent. in 2008-09. Excluding DSG, the comparable levels are £7.9 billion or 20.4 per cent. and £6.9 billion or 17.1 per cent. respectively.
	Information on local authority revenue expenditure for 2007-08 will not be available until towards the end of 2008 when revenue outturn statistics are published. Similarly local authority revenue expenditure outturn for 2008-09 will not be available until to wards the end of 2009.

Sustainable Development: Urban Areas

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been allocated for the construction of eco-towns; and from what budgets.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 6 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1397W to the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry).

Sustainable Development: Urban Areas

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to ensure that funding for the construction of eco-towns will not be taken from existing allocations for local projects.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) on 6 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1397W. As that answer sets out, funding has been provided to support the Growth Areas, the Thames Gateway, New Growth Points and eco-towns. This ensures that there will be provision of funding for eco-towns and it will not be taken from existing allocations for local projects.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons NATO leaflets advised Afghan civilians to stay in their homes before the bombing of Musa Qala.

Des Browne: There was no bombing of the urban area of Musa Qaleh during the recent operation to restore Government of Afghanistan control of the area. Indeed, great care was taken to avoid aerial bombardment of the town. A small number of precision attacks were made against Taliban forces identified in the surrounding area.
	Leaflet drops warned the civilian population to remain indoors if fighting occurred in their area. This advice was given in order to avoid civilians being caught in crossfire.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) name and  (b) age at death was of each British serviceman and woman (i) killed and (ii) severely injured in Afghanistan since 2001; and what the (A) location and (B) date of each death or injury was.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 7 February 2008
	Information on fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan is published and updated regularly on the Ministry of Defence website at:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/Operations Factsheets/OperationsInAfghanistan Britishfatalities.htm
	The details requested are reproduced as follows:
	
		
			  Date of Death  Name and Rank  Age  Location 
			 20 January 2008 Corporal Darryl Gardiner 25 Helmand Province 
			 8 December 2007 Sergeant Lee Johnson 33 Helmand Province 
			 4 December 2007 Trooper Jack Sadler 21 Helmand Province 
			 14 November 2007 Captain John McDermid 43 Helmand Province 
			 9 November 2007 Lance Corporal Jake Alderton 22 Helmand Province 
			 4 October 2007 Major Alexis Roberts 32 Kandahar Province 
			 20 September 2007 Colour Sergeant Phillip Newman 36 Helmand Province 
			 20 September 2007 Private Brian Tunnicliffe 33 Helmand Province 
			 17 September 2007 Corporal Ivano Violino 29 Helmand Province 
			 8 September 2007 Sergeant Craig Brelsford 25 Helmand Province 
			 8 September 2007 Private Johan Botha 25 Helmand Province 
			 5 September 2007 Private Damian Wright 18 Helmand Province 
			 5 September 2007 Private Ben Ford 23 Helmand Province 
			 30 August 2007 Senior Aircraftman Christopher Bridge 20 Kandahar Province 
			 23 August 2007 Private Aaron James McClure 19 Helmand Province 
			 23 August 2007 Private Robert Graham Foster 19 Helmand Province 
			 23 August 2007 Private John Thrumble 21 Helmand Province 
			 11 August 2007 Captain David Hicks 26 Helmand Province 
			 10 August 2007 Private Tony Rawson 27 Helmand Province 
			 29 July 2007 Lance Corporal Michael Jones 26 Southern Afghanistan 
			 27 July 2007 Sergeant Barry Keen 34 Helmand Province 
			 26 July 2007 Guardsman David Atherton 25 Helmand Province 
			 25 July 2007 Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins 22 Helmand Province 
			 12 July 2007 Guardsman Daryl Hickey 27 Helmand Province 
			 1 July 2007 Sergeant Dave Wilkinson 33 Helmand Province 
			 30 June 2007 Captain Scan Dolan 40 Helmand Province 
			 24 June 2007 Drummer Thomas Wright 21 Helmand Province 
			 9 June 2007 Guardsman Neil Downes 20 Helmand Province 
			 6 June 2007 Lance Corporal Paul Sandford 23 Helmand Province 
			 30 May 2007 Corporal Mike Gilyeat 28 Helmand Province 
			 28 May 2007 Corporal Darren Bonner 31 Helmand Province 
			 26 May 2007 Guardsman Daniel Probyn 22 Helmand Province 
			 20 May 2007 Lance Corporal George Russell Davey 23 Helmand Province 
			 3 May 2007 Guardsman Simon Davison 22 Helmand Province 
			 13 April 2007 Private Chris Gray 19 Helmand Province 
			 8 March 2007 Warrant Officer Class 2 Michael Smith 39 Helmand Province 
			 6 March 2007 Marine Benjamin Reddy 22 Helmand Province 
			 3 March 2007 Lance Bombardier Ross Clark 25 Helmand Province 
			 3 March 2007 Lance Bombardier Liam McLaughlin 21 Helmand Province 
			 21 February 2007 Marine Scott Summers 23 Helmand Province 
			 21 February 2007 Marine Jonathan Holland 23 Helmand Province 
			 15 January 2007 Lance Corporal Mathew Ford 24 Helmand Province 
			 13 January 2007 Marine Thomas Curry 21 Helmand Province 
			 27 December 2006 Lance Bombardier James Dwyer 22 Helmand Province 
			 12 December 2006 Marine Richard J Watson 23 Helmand Province 
			 5 December 2006 Marine Jonathan Wigley 21 Helmand Province 
			 19 October 2006 Marine Gary Wright 22 Helmand Province 
			 6 September 2006 Lance Corporal Paul Muirhead 29 Helmand Province 
			 6 September 2006 Lance Corporal Luke McCulloch 21 Helmand Province 
			 6 September 2006 Corporal Mark William Wright 27 Helmand Province 
			 4 September 2006 Private Craig O'Donnell 24 Kabul 
			 2 September 2006 Flight Lieutenant Steven Johnson 38 Kandahar Province 
			 2 September 2006 Flight Lieutenant Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore 28 Kandahar Province 
			 2 September 2006 Flight Lieutenant Gareth Rodney Nicholas 40 Kandahar Province 
			 2 September 2006 Flight Lieutenant Allan James Squires 39 Kandahar Province 
			 2 September 2006 Flight Lieutenant Steven Swarbrick 28 Kandahar Province 
			 2 September 2006 Flight Sergeant Gary Wayne Andrews 48 Kandahar Province 
			 2 September 2006 Flight Sergeant Stephen Beattie 42 Kandahar Province 
			 2 September 2006 Flight Sergeant Gerard Martin Bell 48 Kandahar Province 
			 2 September 2006 Flight Sergeant Adrian Davies 49 Kandahar Province 
			 2 September 2006 Sergeant Benjamin James Knight 25 Kandahar Province 
			 2 September 2006 Sergeant John Joseph Langton 29 Kandahar Province 
			 2 September 2006 Sergeant Gary Paul Quilliam 42 Kandahar Province 
			 2 September 2006 Corporal Oliver Simon Dicketts 27 Kandahar Province 
			 2 September 2006 Marine Joseph David Windall 22 Kandahar Province 
			 1 September 2006 Ranger Anare Draiva 27 Helmand Province 
			 27 August 2006 Lance Corporal Jonathan Peter Hetherington 22 Helmand Province 
			 20 August 2006 Corporal Bryan James Budd 29 Helmand Province 
			 12 August 2006 Lance Corporal Scan Tansey 26 Helmand Province 
			 9 August 2006 Private Leigh Reeves 25 Kabul Province 
			 6 August 2006 Private Andrew Barrie Cutts 19 Helmand Province 
			 1 August 2006 Captain Alex Eida 29 Helmand Province 
			 1 August 2006 Second Lieutenant Ralph Johnson 24 Helmand Province 
			 1 August 2006 Lance Corporal Ross Nicholls 27 Helmand Province 
			 5 July 2006 Private Damien Jackson 19 Helmand Province 
			 1 July 2006 Corporal Peter Thorpe 27 Helmand Province 
			 1 July 2006 Lance Corporal Jabron Hashmi 24 Helmand Province 
			 27 June 2006 Captain David Patten 38 Helmand Province 
			 27 June 2006 Sergeant Paul Bartlett 35 Helmand Province 
			 11 June 2006 Captain Jim Philippson 29 Helmand Province 
			 27 March 2006 Lance Corporal Peter Edward Craddock  Helmand Province 
			 22 March 2006 Corporal Mark Cridge 25 Helmand Province 
			 29 October 2005 Lance Corporal Steven Sherwood 23 Samagan Province 
			 28 January 2004 Private Jonathan Kitulagoda 23 Kabul 
			 17 August 2002 Sergeant Robert Busuttil 30 Kabul 
			 17 August 2002 Corporal John Gregory 30 Kabul 
			 9 April 2002 Private Darren John George 23 Kabul 
		
	
	For reasons of confidentiality we are unable to release specific details of casualties without their explicit consent, or that of their family. Aggregated data on casualties is also included on the Ministry of Defence website at:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/DoctrineOperationsand DiplomacyPublications/OperationsInAfghanistan/OpHerrickCasualtyAndFatalityTables.htm

Armed Forces: Manpower

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the peace establishment was of the  (a) Royal Dragoon Guards,  (b) 1(st) Battalion Scots Guards,  (c) Royal Scots Borderers, 1(st) Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland,  (d) 1(st) Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment,  (e) 1(st) Battalion The Mercian Regiment,  (f) D Battery, 3(rd) Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and  (g) K Battery, 5(th) Regiment Royal Artillery prior to deployment to Iraq; what the deployable strength of each battalion is; and how many of all ranks are physically unfit to deploy.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is shown in the following table. The relevant units are currently deployed and as the disclosure of exact numbers would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of our armed forces, numbers have been rounded to the nearest 100 or where less than 100 to the nearest 10, as appropriate:
	
		
			  Unit  Peace establishment prior to deployment  Strength on deployment  Personnel physically unfit to deploy 
			 1 Royal Dragoon Guards 500 500 60 
			 1 Battalion Scots Guards 700 600 70 
			 1 Royal Scots Borderers 600 500 40 
			 1 Lancaster Regiment 700 600 80 
			 1 Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) 600 500 60 
		
	
	3(rd) Regiment Royal Horse Artillery are providing an enduring commitment to operations in Iraq at sub unit level. K Battery 5(th) Regiment Royal Artillery is also providing a bespoke force element to meet current operational requirements. The combined deployment figure for both units is less than 100 personnel. The peace establishment for both forces prior to deployment is around 100 personnel each. However, I am withholding the actual figures as their disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of our armed forces.

Armed Forces: Medical Records

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many requests have been made for medical records of  (a) serving and  (b) veteran service personnel by (i) GPs, (ii) hospital consultants and (iii) individual service personnel and veterans, in each of the last five years; how many of those records were unable to be retrieved; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: In the Royal Navy and the Army, medical records of serving personnel are mostly held at individual unit level. Details of the number of requests could be obtained only by contacting each of them individually, which could be done only at disproportionate cost. The RAF Primary Health Care Directorate holds its records centrally, although an annual breakdown of requests is not available without a manual analysis of the records.
	The medical records for those who have left the armed forces may be held either by the MOD Central Health Records Library (CHRL) or the three single services. The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) also holds some records, but in the majority of cases these will be on loan from the other organisations. When the SPVA receives requests for copies of records, it will in most cases obtain them from CHRL or the single services; thus itself accounting for a significant number of the requests recorded.
	Each organisation collates its figures in the way that best meets its own business needs. Only the Army has been able to break down the number of requests by the type of requester; in other organisations, this detail is not recorded centrally. Also, not all of them record the number of requests made where records are not held. Furthermore, these numbers will inevitably include instances of double-counting. For example, when a request for records has been made of more than one organisation, (CHRL, SPVA and the single services) this will usually result in a "record not held" tally in one of them.
	The information that can be provided is as follows:
	
		
			  CHRL 
			   Number of requests for medical records of veterans  Number of requests where records not held 
			 2003 1,523 n/k 
			 2004 1,800 287 
			 2005 1,721 462 
			 2006 1,769 381 
			 2007 (to end September) 1,551 357 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Navy 
			   Number of requests for medical records of veterans  Number of requests where records not held 
			 2003 973 3 
			 2004 776 5 
			 2005 780 11 
			 2006 681 23 
			 2007 714 11 
		
	
	
		
			  Army 
			   Number of requests for medical records of veterans  Number of requests where records not held 
			   GP/consultant  Personnel 
			 2003 790 629 
			 2004 684 687 
			 2005 700 790 
			 2006 653 906 
			 2007 646 838 
		
	
	
		
			  RAF (primary health care) 
			   Number of requests for medical records of serving personnel  Number of requests where records not held 
			 2003-07 5,189 56 
		
	
	
		
			  RAF (veterans) 
			   Number of requests for medical records of veterans  Number of requests where records not held 
			 2003 Not available n/k 
			 2004 Not available n/k 
			 2005 Not available n/k 
			 2006 699 n/k 
			 2007 (to end November) 754 n/k

Armed Forces: Medical Records

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to introduce electronic medical records within the armed forces; and when they will be introduced.

Derek Twigg: The health records of members of the armed forces are already held electronically, but until recently records could only be accessed at an individual's local medical centre. As I announced at Colchester on 1 August 2007, the Defence Medical Information Capability Programme will improve this capability by providing a single integrated record for each member of the armed forces, which will be accessible at any armed forces medical and dental centre worldwide, and which will also eventually be linked to NHS IT systems. The implementation of this programme is underway, beginning with two pilot sites in February 2007. The system has now been rolled out to 140 medical centres in the Army and the RAF in the UK. Roll out to all remaining medical and dental centres, including the Royal Navy and Defence sites overseas, is due to be complete by early 2009. Roll out to deployed operational facilities, both on land and on HM ships, is due to begin in late-2008 and should be complete by the end of 2009.

Armed Forces: Pay

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's  (a) main manning evidence and  (b) mid-year update manning evidence provided to the Armed Forces Pay Review Board for each financial year from 1997-98.

Derek Twigg: All available information on the manning evidence provided to the Armed Forces Pay Review Board from 1997-98 is being collated and will be placed in the Library in due course.

Armed Forces: Pay

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the tables containing data on  (a) medical officers and dentists,  (b) nursing staff and  (c) allied health professionals provided to the Armed Forces Pay Review Board in respect of each financial year from 1997-98.

Derek Twigg: All available information on medical officers and dentists, nursing staff and allied health professionals provided to the Armed Forces Pay Review Board from 1997-98 is being collated and will be placed in the Library in due course.

Armed Forces: Pay

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which years his Department has staged implementation of the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review body since 1977.

Derek Twigg: Since 1977, the Government have staged the implementation of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) recommendations on seven occasions, but where this has occurred they have always been effected within the same financial year. Staging occurred in 1984, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Armed Forces: Personnel Management

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold discussions with those responsible for the operation of the Joint Personnel Administration system on marrying Territorial records with mobilised records.

Derek Twigg: There are no known systemic problems with the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system affecting reservists. However, there are two issues that are currently being addressed.
	At present, there is no provision via the JPA system for pension contributions to be paid by the MOD to the private or occupational pension schemes of volunteer reservists while they are mobilised. The facility to do this will be incorporated into the next major release of JPA software scheduled for March 2008. Until the automated solution is delivered in March, a manual process is in place.
	The second issue relates to a failure in some instances for action to be taken to inform the JPA system that a reservist has been mobilised. The implications of this are that any deductions that need to be made while mobilised may be taken in error from their "attendance-based" pay account, rather than their full-time pay account that becomes active while mobilised. Instances of this occurring are rare, and I am confident that ongoing education and training of Human Resource administrators will eradicate the problem.

Armed Forces: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the evaluation of the trauma risk management pilot programme will be  (a) completed and  (b) published.

Derek Twigg: The trauma risk management (TRiM) study was conducted by the Kings Centre for Military Health Research and the Academic Centre for Defence Mental Health on behalf of (and funded by) MOD. The study is currently being written up for submission to peer-reviewed academic journals.

Armed Forces: Protective Clothing

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether weight-dispersion boots are available to British forces in theatres where mines are prevalent; and to which armed forces personnel they are made available.

Des Browne: Generally, UK armed forces only remove unexploded ordnance and mines that are a direct threat to operations and they are provided with the equipment they need to do so safely. Weight-dispersion boots are not made available as these are best suited to use in humanitarian de-mining operations. While there were experiments of a similar capability in 2000, the boots were assessed as unsuitable for high intensity operations where soldiers require the ability to breach minefields quickly and then revert immediately to normal combat operations.

Armed Forces: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of armed forces training exercises were cancelled in 2007; and if he will list each such exercise and the reason for cancellation in each case.

Bob Ainsworth: During 2007, a total of 121 training events were scheduled on the Defence Exercise Programme, of which 76 (10.5 per cent.) were cancelled or, in the case of some multinational exercises, UK assets were withdrawn. In detail, 18 exercises were cancelled due to operational commitments, 29 were removed as savings measures and seven were cancelled by other nations. The remaining 22 events were cancelled in response to changing priorities or rescheduling.
	Further details of the military exercise cancelled in 2007 are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Exercise name  Location  Type  Reason for cancellation 
			 1 Frozen Star 07 Norway Air Operational commitments 
			 2 Snow Falcon 07-1 Europe Air Savings measure 
			 3 Lone Fin 07 Europe Air Savings measure 
			 4 Spontex 06-1 Europe Air Savings measure 
			 5 Virtual Flag 07-3 North America Air Host nation cancelled 
			 6 Trident Fury 07 North America Air Operational commitments 
			 7 Maple Flag 40-1 North America Air Operational commitments 
			 8 Maple Flag 40-3 North America Air Host nation cancelled 
			 9 Dragons Nest 07 Europe Air Savings measure 
			 10 Frairex-107 France Air Changed priorities 
			 11 Fac (A) Trg 07 USA Air Changed priorities 
			 12 FWIT07 Europe Air Savings measure 
			 13 Coop Archer 07 Europe Air operational commitments 
			 14 Wycombe Warrior 06-07 Day 1 UK Air rescheduled 
			 15 Ecadex 07 Australia Air changed priorities 
			 16 Patriot 07 North America Air savings measure 
			 17 Templar Forge 07-3 Europe Air operational commitments 
			 18 Lone Victor 07 Europe Air savings measure 
			 19 TLP 07-4 Europe Air Host nation cancelled 
			 20 Batus Run 07-1 North America Air Changed priorities 
			 21 1 ACC WTI 07 North America Air Operational commitments 
			 22 JRTC 07-1 North America Air Operational commitments 
			 23 NATO Maxeval 07 UK Air Operational commitments 
			 24 Bold Avenger 07 Europe Air Savings measure 
			 25 NATO Opeval 07 UK Air Operational commitments 
			 26 Lone Frame 07 Europe Air Savings measure 
			 27 Dapex 07 Spain Air Savings measure 
			 28 JTFEX US Air Savings measure 
			 29 Volcanex 07 Europe Air Savings measure 
			 30 Iberian Spear Europe Air Rescheduled 
			 31 Lone Kestrel 07 Europe Air Savings measure 
			 32 Harding Flame 1 Cyprus Air Operational commitments 
			 33 HARDINGFLAME2 Cyprus Air Operational commitments 
			 34 Uhlan Barbara 07 Europe Army Changed priorities 
			 35 Grand Prix 3 -06/07 Kenya Army Changed priorities 
			 36 Grand Prix 2- 07/08 Kenya Army Changed priorities 
			 37 Readiness Challenge 06/07 US Army Operational commitments 
			 38 Eagles Resolve 06 UK Army Changed priorities 
			 39 Global Gold 07/08 Kenya Army Operational commitments 
			 40 Cossack Steppe UK Army Operational commitments 
			 41 Britannia Way/Iberian Focus 07/08 Denmark Army Changed priorities 
			 42 Bald Eagle 07/08 USA Army Operational commitments 
			 43 Fingals Cave 07/08 Canada Army Host nation cancelled 
			 44 Bass Rock 07/08 Canada Army Host nation cancelled 
			 45 Flying Rose 2-07/08 USA Army Operational commitments 
			 46 Lion Star 1-07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 47 Lion Star 2- 07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 48 Lion Star 3- 07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 49 Lion Star 4- 07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 50 Lion Sun 1-07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 51 Lion Sun 2- 07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 52 Lion Sun 3- 07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 53 Lion Sun 4- 07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 54 Lion Sun 5- 07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 55 Lion Sun 6- 07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 56 Lion Sun 7- 07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 57 Lion Sun 8- 07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 58 Lion Sun 9- 07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 59 Lion Sun 10- 07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 60 Lion Sun 11- 07/08 Cyprus Army Savings measure 
			 61 Cobb Ring 07/08 USA Army Operational commitments 
			 62 Able Ally 07/08 Europe Army Changed priorities 
			 63 Global Kukri 07/08 Brunei Army Operational commitments 
			 64 Cyprus Forum 06 Cyprus Joint Changed priorities(1) 
			 65 Joint Venture 07/08 UK Joint Changed priorities 
			 66 Lobnet 1/07 UK Joint Changed priorities 
			 67 Fast Step 1/07 UK Joint Changed priorities 
			 68 Desert Thunder USA Joint Changed priorities 
			 69 Assegai Eyes 07 Denmark Joint Changed priorities 
			 70 Wild Dog 07 Kenya Joint Changed priorities 
			 71 Lemon Sole 1/07 UK Joint Changed priorities 
			 72 Bright Star 07 Egypt Joint Changed priorities 
			 73 CME/CMX 07 NATO and EU MOD cancelled by EU and NATO 
			 74 Steadfast Nerve 07 NATO wide NATO cancelled by natal 
			 75 Jagged Flame 07-1 Europe NATO Savings measure 
			 76 Coop Mako 07 Mediterranean Navy Changed priorities 
			 (1) Objectives met by operational commitment (Op highbrow)

Armed Forces: Working Hours

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) average and  (b) highest number of working hours for personnel in the (i) Army, (ii) Navy, (iii) RAF and (iv) all services was in the last 12 months.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally on administration systems. However, the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA) carry out a continuous survey of working patterns which is used to provide estimates of average hours(1) worked by each service. This information is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Table of estimated average hours worked( 1)  per week by service personnel( 2)  in 2006-07 
			  Service  Average number of hours worked per week 
			 Naval Service(3) 52.7 
			 Army 48.2 
			 RAF 43. 9 
			 Tri-Service 48.0 
			 (1) Hours worked includes time spent carrying out normal work, secondary duties, compulsory fitness training, organised sports and representational activities, but excludes annual leave, meal and tea breaks and time spent on call. (2) Survey excludes personnel of Major General rank and above (or equivalents). (3) Naval Service includes the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines. 
		
	
	Because the continuous survey of working patterns is a sample survey it cannot be used to identify the highest value in the population as a whole.
	The 2006-07 copy of the continuous survey of working patterns report will be available in the Library of the House, shortly.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2007,  Official Report, column 55W, on armoured fighting vehicles, what key user requirements the Cheetah vehicle did not meet; and what the key user requirements will be for future  (a) protected and  (b) unprotected military vehicles.

Bob Ainsworth: The Cheetah vehicle did not meet the minimum internal space requirement. With regard to future protected/unprotected military vehicles, I am withholding information about the key user requirements, as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Army: Commonwealth

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Commonwealth citizens were recruited to the British Army in the last 12 months, broken down by nationality.

Derek Twigg: The following table shows the intake from civilian life to the UK Regular Army of Officers and Soldiers who have a Commonwealth nationality recorded. The intake is for the period 1 March 2006 to 28 February 2007 as flows for the last 12 months are currently unavailable.
	
		
			  Intake of officers, officer designates and soldiers with Commonwealth nationality from 1 March 2006 to 28 February 2007 
			  Nationality  Total 
			 Australian — 
			 Bahamian — 
			 Bangalee — 
			 Barbadian — 
			 Belizean — 
			 Botswana — 
			 Cameroonian 10 
			 Canadian 10 
			 Dominican 10 
			 Fijian 15 
			 Gambian 35 
			 Ghanaian 175 
			 Grenadian 10 
			 Guyanese — 
			 Indian 15 
			 Jamaica 30 
			 Kenyan 30 
			 Malawian 20 
			 Mauritian 10 
			 New Zealander 5 
			 Nigerian 25 
			 Pakistani — 
			 Saint Lucian 25 
			 Seychellois — 
			 Sierra Leonian 5 
			 South African 180 
			 Sri Lankan — 
			 Swazi 5 
			 Tongan — 
			 Trinidadian 10 
			 Ugandan 20 
			 Vincentian 5 
			 Zambian 5 
			 Zimbabwean 60 
			 Total 740 
			  Notes: 1. Due to the ongoing validation of the new Joint Personnel Administration System DASA are unable at this time to provide any information for intake and nationality since April 2007. 2. Figures show trained and untrained intake from civilian life including rejoined reservists and re-enlistments. 3. UK Regular Army includes Nursing Services and excludes Full Time Reserve Service personnel, Gurkhas, the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiments and mobilised reservists. 4. The nationality above is that recorded on intake and not necessarily the same as nationality at birth. 5. Although DASA are currently unable to provide the latest figures on intake, the strengths figure as at 1 November 2007 show a net increase of 130 in the number with Commonwealth nationality. 6. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 to limit disclosure and ensure confidentiality. Totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts. 7. Data less than 5 has been suppressed and replaced with '—'.

Army: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of each of his Department's  (a) Army Monthly Manning Report and  (b) Army cascade returns for each month since 2005-06.

Derek Twigg: Copies of the Defence Analytical Service Agency Army Monthly Manning Report since April 2005 will be placed in the Library in due course. The last Monthly Manning Report was produced in March 2007.
	I am withholding the Army cascade returns because their release would disclose personal information, and preparing them for disclosure would incur disproportionate cost.

Army: Recruitment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recruitment  (a) requirement and  (b) actual number achieved for the (i) infantry, (ii) Royal Artillery, (iii) Royal Logistics Corps and (iv) Royal Signals was in each month in 2007.

Derek Twigg: Recruiting targets are set against an annual, not monthly, requirement across financial years. Officers are not recruited against arm or corps targets but against a whole army requirement. The annual enlistment targets for soldiers for the arms and corps requested are shown below, together with the figures actually achieved.
	
		
			   Financial y ear 
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			  Arm or corps  Enlistment achievement  Annual target  Enlistment achievement to 31 December  Annual target 
			 Royal Artillery 970 1,030 780 1,020 
			 Royal Signals 750 870 360 880 
			 Royal Logistics Corps 2,100 2,410 1,090 2,080 
			 Infantry 4,310 4,260 2,800 4,940 
		
	
	Statistics have been rounded to the nearest 10, numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

Chad: EC Defence Policy

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the status of the European Security and Defence Policy mission to Chad.

Bob Ainsworth: Deployment of the ESDP mission to Chad/Central African Republic had been temporarily suspended due to the internal security situation in Chad. However, following the operation commander's assessment of the prevailing situation in Chad and discussions in the EU Political and Security Committee on 8 February, deployment has now resumed. Initial operating capability is still expected to be achieved by the end of March as previously planned.

Chelsea Barracks

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the sale of Chelsea Barracks; what his most recent estimate is of the capital to be realised from the sale; and whether the receipts will be hypothecated as funding additional to current provision for new and improved accommodation for service personnel.

Derek Twigg: On 31 January 2008, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) completed the sale of Chelsea Barracks to Project Blue (Guernsey) Limited for £959 million. Exchange of contracts took place in April 2007 and the receipts from the sale were anticipated as part of the MOD's plans for investment in service accommodation both in 2007-08 and as part of the comprehensive spending review. More than £200 million will be spent on service accommodation in the current financial year and £550 million will be spent between 2008-09 and 2010-11 as announced in the comprehensive spending review White Paper. The balance of the proceeds will also be allocated for service accommodation as part of the next spending review. In addition, the Department has made available a further £80 million for investment in single living accommodation over the next three years.

Christmas

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department's agencies spent on  (a) Christmas cards and  (b) postage of Christmas cards in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: In 2005, £1,100 was spent on Christmas cards and postage and £200 was spent in 2006. No money was spent by the Department's agencies on Christmas cards or postage in 2007. The information for previous years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Trading Fund expenditure is not included in this response as they are outside the MOD's departmental boundary for financial reporting purposes.

Defence Aviation Repair Agency

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the proposed sale of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) to Vector Aerospace, how many members of the DARA workforce will transfer into a new pension scheme; how many will remain in the current Crown Service scheme; and how much he has agreed to transfer into the new scheme.

Bob Ainsworth: There are currently 797 MOD employees at DARA's Rotary Wing Business Unit at Fleetlands, Hampshire and 295 at the Components Business Unit in Almondbank, Perthshire who will transfer to the new Vector Aerospace pension scheme on sale completion, unless they choose to opt out.
	In accordance with the Governments "Fair Deal" for Staff Pensions (2004) guidance, they will not be able to remain members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) after sale completion. However, they will be entitled to three months notice to decide whether to retain their accrued pension contributions in the PCSPS until retirement age or transfer the benefits in to the new Vector Aerospace scheme.
	MOD will not know how many employees will elect to retain their accrued benefits in the PCSPS until the three month options exercise has been completed. The PCSPS actuaries will then be able to calculate the bulk transfer payment that will be transferred in to the new Vector Aerospace scheme.

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's reports on  (a) the Working Patterns Survey,  (b) the Leave Survey and  ( c ) Pay Analysis— Current and Future Pay for the financial years 2005-06 and 2007-08.

Derek Twigg: Copies of the continuous working patterns survey and leave survey reports for 2005-06 are already available in the Library of the House. The 2006-07 copies will be available in the Library shortly. The 2007-08 reports will not be produced until summer 2008.
	The outputs from the Pay Analyses—Current and Future Pay report are purely unrounded numerical data held in spreadsheet format. As such, no accessible reports are available for publication and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Data Protection

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what steps he has taken on  (a) informing and  (b) advising those whose personal data was contained in the missing laptops; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what advice has been given to those whose data was contained on the missing departmental laptops.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 7 February 2008
	As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in his statement of 21 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1225 we have written to the 3,702 personnel on the database whose bank details have been potentially compromised. In that letter, recipients were informed that the MOD had arranged for their bank or building society to be contacted about the theft and those banks and building societies will monitor their accounts for signs of any unauthorised activity.
	The banks and building societies have assured the MOD that they have the appropriate safeguards in place and that there is no need for people to ask for a new account. Under the Banking Code, where accounts are used fraudulently by a third party the account holder is not liable.
	We also advised that individuals may wish to take steps to protect themselves. For example, they should contact their bank or building society immediately in the event of any unexpected activity on their accounts. We reminded recipients that they should not give out personal details if anyone contacted them unexpectedly. We advised them to take a note of the caller's name and telephone number and, if they were suspicious, to then contact their bank or building society. Lastly, if any of the passwords they used to access their accounts were based on their personal data, we advised that they should consider changing those passwords.
	In addition, the Department has written to a further 147,823 people whose personal details have been lost, and similar advice was provided.
	Finally, for those who wished to make further inquiries we have established a freephone helpline, an e-mail address and freepost address for people seeking clarification on what personal data has been lost.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of Freedom of Information requests received from  (a) parliamentarians,  (b) businesses,  (c) academics and  (d) media sources have been agreed to by his Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force.

Derek Twigg: It should be noted that the statistics contained within this answer refer only to those requests for information where the applicant has declared their occupation; this is not necessary for the Department to process a request.
	
		
			   Percentage of total FOI requests from these sources and  answered in full or part  Percentage of FOI requests from these sources answered in full or part  Percentage of total FOI requests, which where from these sources and were refused in full  Percentage of FOI requests from these sources refused in full 
			 Parliament 0.5 34.2 0.1 1.9 
			 Business 5.8 57.0 0.4 4.1 
			 Academia 2.5 56.3 0.2 4.3 
			 Media 6.6 37.0 1.0 5.6 
		
	
	Where requests are refused in full, it is either because the information was considered exempt under the FOI Act or because answering them would incur a cost to the Department which would exceed the 'appropriate limit', set at £600.
	The status of the remaining requests known to be from these sectors, is currently defined as 'other', which means they have either: been withdrawn by the requestor; are subject to a permitted extension under the FOI Act; are 'open', i.e. their status cannot currently be determined; or the requested information was not held by the Department.

Departmental ICT

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) mobile telephones,  (b) personal digital assistants and  (c) laptop computers issued to departmental staff were reported (i) lost, (ii) missing and (iii) stolen in each year since 2001.

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many universal serial bus flash memory data storage devices used to store  (a) restricted,  (b) confidential,  (c) secret and  (d) top secret data have been lost by or stolen from his Department in each year since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: As a result of the recent theft of a laptop, the Ministry of Defence has initiated an investigation into the details of all lost or stolen electronic media since 2003. This investigation involves the collation and examination of reports from across the Department including final disposal action, where available. While every effort is being made to gather the information as quickly and accurately as possible, not all the details are presently available. In addition, it should be noted that details of such incidents were not collated centrally before 2003 and therefore will not be available.
	I will write to the hon. Members when the information has been collated and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's personal digital assistants have been  (a) lost and  (b) stolen in each of the last five years; and what the value of those items was.

Bob Ainsworth: As a result of the recent theft of a laptop, the Ministry of Defence has initiated an investigation into the details of all lost or stolen electronic media, including PDAs, since 2003. This process involves examining and collating reports from across the Ministry of Defence including final disposal action.
	While every effort is being made to gather the information expeditiously, not all the details are presently available.
	I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available and arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Leadership

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcomes have been from steps taken to improve corporate leadership in his Department following the findings of his Department's Capability Review.

Bob Ainsworth: We are approaching the halfway stage of a two-year plan to strengthen corporate leadership in the Department and the other three areas identified by the Capability Review. This includes a continued effort by the senior leadership team to provide the Department with strong and visible corporate leadership, supported by changes in board structures which will be fully implemented by 1 April. These include the replacement of a large number of subordinate boards and committees with a single operating board to ensure that the Defence board's strategic direction is carried through into action.

Departmental Pay

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) net paybill cost and  (b) net percentage increase to the paybill was of implementing his Department's civilian pay rises in each financial year from 1996-97 to 2007-08.

Derek Twigg: The civilian staff paybill costs are as follows:
	
		
			   Total pay costs (£ billion) 
			 1997-98 2.0 
			 1998-99 2.0 
			 1999-2000 2.1 
			 2000-01 2.1 
			 2001-02 2.1 
			 2002-03 2.1 
			 2003-04 2.1 
			 2004-05 2.2 
			 2005-06 2.4 
			 2006-07 2.4 
			  Note: This table shows the total civilian paybill costs for all industrial and non-industrial civil servants employed by MOD, excluding trading funds and locally engaged civilians. The costs include pay, employer's ERNIC and pension contributions. They also include an element of pay allowances such as Recruitment and Retention Allowances (both locational and functional). 
		
	
	The MOD civilian work force consists of myriad groups of staff which are subject to different pay bargaining processes and different annual pay settlements. The information requested could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost. Pay settlements are implemented in accordance with Government pay policy.

Departmental Sick Leave

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department plans to undertake an evaluation of its new sickness absence management programme.

Derek Twigg: A full Post Project Evaluation of the Sickness Absence Management (SAM) programme was conducted in October 2007. As a consequence, the SAM policy has been rewritten in order to make it more explanatory and to include the interaction with the newly introduced Patient Care Pathway. The policy is kept under constant review to ensure that it remains effective.

Employment Agencies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department paid to recruitment agencies in relation to departmental appointments in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: Decisions on the appointment of recruitment agencies to assist with external recruitment are delegated to many different parts of the Department, and therefore the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All recruitment of civil servants to the Department complies with the code for recruitment provided by the Civil Service Commissioners. A management area may employ a recruitment agency where it judges that this is necessary to attract the best candidates for the post.

Estonia: Hacking

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on the distributed denial of service attack on Estonian critical infrastructure in May 2007.

Bob Ainsworth: The disruption Estonia faced in May 2007 underlines the importance of the work NATO is carrying out on cyber defence and the protection of critical infrastructure. Cyber defence is discussed by NATO Defence Ministers on a regular basis; most recently at their meeting in Vilnius which the Secretary of State for Defence attended on 7-8 February.

Fort Halstead: Manpower

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the greatest number of people employed at Fort Halstead in Kent has been; and in which year that number of people were employed.

Bob Ainsworth: h olding answer 7 January 2008
	 Prior to 2001 the site at Fort Halstead was operated by DERA, the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. Following the split of DERA in July 2001 the site has been owned and managed by the privatised company QinetiQ but has retained an enclave of staff from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), via a formal 99 year lease.
	Dstl only has accurate figures from 1 July 2001, vesting day. On this date Dstl had 529 employees based at Fort Halstead, over the years this has increased to a maximum of 716 on 1 February 2008.

France

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with the French Commission undertaking a review of French defence and national security; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: UK and French officials meet regularly to discuss defence and security issues, both bilaterally and in the context of NATO and the EU. In addition, senior officials in the Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office held discussions with M. Mallet, the Head of the French Commission, during his visit to the UK in October 2007.

Future Rapid Effect System

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the planned in-service date is of the Future Rapid Effect System; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the Future Rapid Effect System.

Bob Ainsworth: The Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) will deliver a fleet of wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles capable of operating across the spectrum of operations and protecting against the most likely threats. We are making significant progress with FRES, and I announced the successful completion of the utility vehicle design trials at the end of November. We have undertaken further work and will make a definitive announcement on a preferred design to be taken forward in due course.
	In service dates are not normally set until the main investment decision.

Gurkhas

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will put in place measures to  (a) reduce the number of serving Royal Gurkha Rifles personnel who are leaving the British Army in order to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the United Kingdom and  (b) extend ILR status to such personnel;
	(2)  if he will extend home student status to the children of serving Royal Gurkha Rifles personnel.

Derek Twigg: Gurkha service in the British Army is enabled through an agreement made between the Governments of the UK, Nepal and India in 1947—the Tripartite Agreement. Gurkhas are recruited in Nepal and remain Nepalese citizens throughout their service in the Brigade of Gurkhas. This is in line with the wishes of the Government of Nepal.
	There is no evidence to suggest that significant numbers of Gurkha personnel are applying to leave the British Army early in order to seek indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom. Under their new terms and conditions of service, introduced last year, Gurkhas now have the opportunity to transfer to the wider Army, after five years, where they would cease to be Gurkhas and serve as Nepalese Service Personnel. They would then be entitled to apply for naturalisation under the normal immigration rules for Her Majesty's forces.
	Government policy on eligibility for home student status is the responsibility of the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). Under current arrangements, dependents of Gurkha soldiers are ineligible for home student status while their parents remain Nepalese citizens. The Ministry of Defence is currently working with the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills to address this issue.

Gurkhas: Higher Education

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the merits of helping serving Gurkhas who apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK with the payment of university fees for their children.

Derek Twigg: Serving Gurkhas cannot apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Gurkha service in the British Army is enabled through an agreement made between the Governments of the UK, Nepal and India in 1947—the Tripartite Agreement. Gurkhas are recruited in Nepal and remain Nepalese citizens throughout their service in the Brigade of Gurkhas. This is in line with the wishes of the Government of Nepal.
	Under their new terms and conditions of service, introduced last year, Gurkhas now have the opportunity to apply to transfer to the wider Army, after five years, where they would cease to be Gurkhas and serve as Nepalese Service Personnel. They would then be entitled to apply for naturalisation under the normal immigration rules for Her Majesty's Forces.
	Under current arrangements, dependants of Gurkha soldiers are ineligible for home student status while their parents remain Nepalese citizens. The Ministry of Defence is currently working on this issue with the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills, which has responsibility for Government policy in this area.

Individual Resettlement Training Costs Grant

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's budget is for the individual resettlement training costs grant in financial years  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11.

Derek Twigg: The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The three single services operate different budgetary regimes which, in the case of the RAF, means that individual resettlement training costs grant budgetary costs are not separately identified but are subsumed into wider training costs budgets, which are then devolved down to station level.
	I am able to provide details for the Royal Navy and Army as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2008-09 4.5 
			 2009-10 4.6 
			 2010-11 4.7

Intimidation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of bullying have been reported in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in each of the last 12 months.

Derek Twigg: For the MOD civil service the number of bullying cases in the Ministry of Defence and its agencies is as follows:
	
		
			   Bullying cases( 1) 
			 January 2007 2 
			 February 2007 2 
			 March 2007 0 
			 April 2007 5 
			 May 2007 2 
			 June 2007 7 
			 July 2007 8 
			 August 2007 2 
			 September 2007 2 
			 October 2007 2 
			 November 2007 2 
			 December 2007 6 
			 (1) The figures show the number of formal complaints raised through the Department's harassment and bullying complaints procedure where investigation by a harassment investigation officer has been requested. Figures for complaints raised informally or resolved locally are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. 
		
	
	For the armed forces, monthly information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However the total number of cases reported over the latest available 12 month period (1 October 2006 to 31 September 2007) is summarised in the following table:
	
		
			  Service  Investigated( 1) 
			 Royal Navy 16 
			 Army 31 
			 Royal Air Force 29 
			 (1 )This column records the number of formal complaints of bullying reported within each service. This number includes ongoing cases and complaints which were later withdrawn 
		
	
	The Department's Unified Diversity Strategy makes clear that bullying and harassment are not tolerated in the Ministry of Defence or the armed forces. Revised complaints procedures were published in January 2007.

Iraq: Detainees

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost to date to the public purse has been of prosecutions, trial proceedings and internal military investigations and proceedings concerned with the death of Mr. Baha Musa in Iraq in British custody.

Des Browne: It has not been possible to collate all the necessary information within the required timescale. The following figures are for those costings available to date, though they are not final sums.
	Army Criminal Legal Aid Authority costs for all defence teams are £8,140,696.91. The Military Court Service costs, including costs for witnesses, transcription, hotel bills, catering, interpreters and miscellaneous items, are £363,800. The Army Prosecuting Authority costs, including those for the Judicial Review, are £1,231,240.
	I will write to the hon. Member once the costings for other areas have been received.

Iraq: Interpreters

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps his Department has taken on the  (a) safety of and  (b) support for Iraqi interpreters working with British forces in Iraq.

Des Browne: We take our responsibilities to the Iraqi interpreters working with UK armed forces in Iraq extremely seriously, and have in place various measures for their protection and support. If a direct threat is made against any of our locally employed civilians then we will take action to provide them with extra security, which may include bringing them into the contingency operating base. If an interpreter is required for a particularly sensitive issue, which would place an Iraqi in a difficult situation, then we will use a third country national to translate instead.
	As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 8 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 23-24, we have introduced a policy to provide additional assistance to recognise more fully the unique contribution made by our Iraqi staff who have completed their work with us. This policy was detailed in written statements to the House by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 9 October 2007,  Official Report, column 27WS, and 30 October 2007,  Official Report, column 30WS, and is now in the process of being implemented.

Iraq: Military Equipment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 1601-03W, on military equipment: Iraq, what types of body armour were gifted by the UK to the Iraqi government in 2005; and what the origin of the body armour so gifted was.

Des Browne: The UK gifted 25,058 sets of body armour in 2005. These sets are made up of two elements: a bullet/fragmentation vest and a ballistic plate. The body armour was purchased from a commercial contractor specifically for gifting to the Iraqi authorities as part of the UK's efforts to prepare the Iraqi security forces to be self-sufficient in the management of their own security.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of civilian  (a) women and  (b) children killed in Iraq since March 2003; and how many of these died as a result of UK armed forces activity.

Des Browne: I have nothing to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Dr. Howells) on 9 October 2007,  Official Report, column 545W, to the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Stephen Williams). The UK Government does not collate these figures.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his plans are for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq.

Des Browne: I have nothing further to add to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 8 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 21-25.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many attacks have been made on British forces stationed at Basra airbase in each of the last 12 months;
	(2)  what the average number of daily attacks against Basra airbase was in the last three months, broken down by day of the week;
	(3)  what type of munitions are being used against British forces stationed at Basra airbase.

Des Browne: The number of attacks on British forces stationed at Basra airbase in each of the last 12 months for which data is available is shown as follows:
	
		
			   Attack  
			   Mortar  Other  Rocket  Shoot  Grand total 
			 January 2007 — — 18 — 18 
			 February 2007 — 1 12 — 13 
			 March 2007 1 — 10 — 11 
			 April 2007 — — 64 1 65 
			 May 2007 — — 77 1 78 
			 June 2007 — — 76 — 76 
			 July 2007 — — 74 — 74 
			 August 2007 — — 32 — 32 
			 September 2007 — — 5 — 5 
			 October 2007 — — 9 — 9 
			 November 2007 — — 11 2 13 
			 December 2007 — — 12 — 12 
			  1 1 400 4 406 
		
	
	The average number of daily attacks against Basra airbase in the last three months, broken down by day of the week, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Attack—rocket 
			 Monday 8 
			 Tuesday 5 
			 Wednesday 6 
			 Thursday 4 
			 Friday 8 
			 Saturday 6 
			 Sunday 3 
		
	
	The vast majority of munitions employed against British forces stationed at Basra airbase are 107mm, 122mm and 240mm rockets. One 120mm rocket was fired over the last year.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Finance Director of his Department has visited  (a) OP Telic and  (b) OP Herrick to view existing operations.

Des Browne: Non-essential visits to operational theatres are kept to the absolute minimum. The MOD's finance director visited Operation Telic when working for Commander-in-Chief Land Command but has not visited Operation Telic or Operation Herrick in his capacity as finance director.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the next report on health surveillance research on personnel deployed on Operation Herrick and Operation Telic will be made; and whether the research will continue until the end of all troop deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Derek Twigg: A second three-year phase of research into the physical and psychological health of Operation Telic and Herrick personnel is currently being conducted by King's College London; it is contracted to provide the Ministry of Defence with an interim report by the end of February 2009 and a final report by the end of August 2009. I would expect to make a statement on receipt of the final report, and will do so on receipt of the interim report if any clear issues of significance have emerged at that point.
	With regard to findings from the first phase of this research, 12 papers have been published in the scientific literature to date, and more will follow. The timing of such publications, in accordance with academic practice, is a matter for the researchers and the scientific journals concerned. No decision has yet been made about continuing the research beyond 2009.

Military Bases: Helicopters

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the commencement date of Project Belvedere is.

Bob Ainsworth: Project Belvedere, now known as Programme Belvedere commenced in June 2005.

Military Equipment

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the application of the Harmony guidelines to REME Metalsmiths Class 1.

Derek Twigg: The harmony guidelines are designed to ensure that the armed forces can perform the tasks that the Government require of them, without expecting our people to bear an excessive burden. They are applied to all trades within the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in a similar manner to other specialist trades (for example the Corps of Royal Engineers).

Military Equipment: Finance

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's planned expenditure is on  (a) new armoured vehicles for the Army and  (b) new escort ships for the Royal Navy in each of the next five years.

Bob Ainsworth: It has been assumed that 'new armoured vehicles' refers to the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES), and that 'new escorts' refers to the Type 45 destroyer.
	FRES has not yet reached the Main Gate approval point and actual costs for design and manufacture have yet to be set. The forecast cost of Type 45 in the NAO Major Projects Report 2007 is £6,464 million for six ships. Detailed spending plans are kept under review and exposure of more detailed budgeting profiles would prejudice the ongoing commercial negotiations of the projects.

Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency: Colchester

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the authorised strength of the Ministry of Defence police force at the Colchester Garrison was in  (a) May 1997,  (b) May 2001 and  (c) May 2005; and what the authorised strength now is.

Derek Twigg: The term 'authorised strength' is interpreted to be the staff complement as agreed between Land Command and the MDP. As such the authorised strength of the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) at Colchester Garrison in May 1997, May 2001, May 2005 and January 2008 was as follows:
	
		
			   Authorised strength 
			 May 1997 32 
			 May 2001 33 
			 May 2005 20 
			 January 2008 9 
		
	
	The MDP provides a community policing role at Colchester Garrison and does not provide security for the establishment. Security is provided by the Army unit stationed at the Garrison.
	These figures do not include Criminal Investigation Department Officers who are not part of the MDP complement at Colchester Garrison and not funded by Land Command. They are based in Colchester for administrative convenience and are responsible for investigating crime on defence estates in East Anglia.

Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency: Colchester

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence police officers were employed at Colchester Garrison in  (a) May 1997,  (b) May 2001,  (c) May 2005,  (d) May 2006 and  (e) May 2007; and how many are now employed there.

Derek Twigg: The number of Ministry of Defence police officers employed at Colchester in  (a) May 1997,  (b) May 2001,  (c) May 2005,  (d) May 2006,  (e) May 2007 and January 2008 is as follows:
	
		
			   Total 
			 May 1997 32 
			 May 2001 33 
			 May 2005 20 
			 May 2006 20 
			 May 2007 12 
			 January 2008 9 
		
	
	The MDP provides a community policing role at Colchester Garrison and does not provide security for the establishment. Security is provided by the Army unit stationed at the Garrison.
	These figures do not include Criminal Investigation Department Officers who are not part of the MDP complement at Colchester Garrison and not funded by Land Command. They are based in Colchester for administrative convenience and are responsible for investigating crime on defence estates in East Anglia.

Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence Guarding Agency officers there were in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) is the uniformed, unarmed element forming part of the larger Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency. Ministry of Defence Guard Service was formed in to a corporate structure as part of the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency in April 2004.
	The information requested is provided in the table as follows:
	
		
			   Number of MGS 
			 1997 4,109 
			 1998 4,141 
			 1999 4,230 
			 2000 4,101 
			 2001 3,743 
			 2002 3,626 
			 2003 3,659 
			 2004 3,621 
			 2005 3,883 
			 2006 3,923 
			 2007 3,990

Navy: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the Royal Navy's  (a) Manpower Planning Assumptions,  (b) Rating Planning Model,  (c) Officers Planning Model,  (d) Officers Strategic Planning Model and  (e) Naval Manpower Brief for the financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Bob Ainsworth: I will place a copy of the latest editions of the Navy Manpower Planning Assumptions for 2007 in the Library of the House. It has been edited to remove some personal names, and details of future recruiting assumptions and transfer numbers by specialisation, as this information would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of the armed forces. Where this has been done it has been indicated in the document. The edition for runs in 2006 is already available in the Library of the House. The next edition, for planning runs to be run in 2008, has not yet been finalised.
	I am withholding the models themselves as their release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of the armed forces and they contain personal information.
	I am also withholding the Naval Manpower Brief, as its release would or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of the armed forces.

Nuclear Disarmament

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he gave to inviting  (a) Israel,  (b) India and  (c) Pakistan when planning the technical conference involving the laboratories of nuclear weapons states in collaborative work on confidence building in nuclear disarmament, as announced in his speech to the conference on disarmament in Geneva on 5 February.

Des Browne: The UK has offered to host a conference between the nuclear laboratories of the five Nuclear Weapon States recognised under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (China, France, Russia, the UK and the United States). The aim of the Conference will be to address some of the difficult technical issues related to the verification of nuclear disarmament as we work toward a world free from nuclear weapons. It will examine ways of furthering the disarmament goals of Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which Israel, India and Pakistan are not states parties.

Nuclear Warhead Capability Sustainment Programme: Finance

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the projected expenditure on the Nuclear Warhead Capability Sustainment Programme is  (a) in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11 and  (b) the life of the programme from 2005 to 2015.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 400W.

Nuclear Weapons: Decommissioning

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding his Department has provided to the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston for research on the verification of the dismantlement of nuclear warheads since 1997; and what provision has been made for such research in the next three years.

Bob Ainsworth: The MOD's Arms Control Verification Research (ACVR) programme commenced in April 2000, following the Strategic Defence Review. A small amount of work was undertaken prior to this to develop the forward programme but detailed costs are unable to be extracted from the overall 'Nuclear Test Limitation' programme which existed at the time. Costs incurred directly against the ACVR programme for the period 2000-01 to 2006-07, inclusive, were approximately £2 million. In addition to this, indirect support has been provided from other AWE programme areas.
	For financial year 2007-08 the ACVR budget is £420,000. The MOD is currently reviewing the ACVR programme's future resource allocation to ensure it is commensurate with meeting policy objectives.

Reserve Forces: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the latest figure is for the  (a) required and  (b) actual total training strength of the (i) Territorial Army, (ii) Royal Navy Reserve, (iii) Royal Marines Reserve and (iv) Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

Bob Ainsworth: The latest figures for the Volunteer Reserves are as follows:
	
		
			   Required trained strength  Actual trained strength  As a percentage 
			 Royal Naval Reserve 1,784 1,652 93 
			 Royal Marines Reserve 582 519 89 
			 Territorial Army 30,274 21,069 70 
			 Royal Auxiliary Air Force 2,011 1,264 63 
		
	
	Figures for the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Marines Reserve are as at 31 January 2008. Figures for the Territorial Army are the latest available, and are as at 1 March 2007, when JPA went live for the Army. Figures for the Royal Auxiliary Air Force are as at 31 December 2007. In all cases the numbers are based on those who have successfully completed their required training.

Royal Engineers: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average tour intervals were for each unit of the  (a) Royal Engineers and  (b) Royal Mechanical and Electrical Engineers in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 November 2007,  Official Report, column 3W.

Service Personnel Vetting Agency: RAF Innsworth

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the reasons are for moving the Service Personnel Vetting Agency from RAF Innsworth; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 14 January 2008
	 I am currently considering the business case in support of the recent study into the future accommodation requirements of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency. The decision will be announced in due course and I shall write to the hon. Member.

Territorial Army: Pensions

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to making the remuneration of serving members of the Territorial Army pensionable on the same terms as those serving in the armed forces.

Bob Ainsworth: There are arrangements in place to ensure that reservists who are mobilised for permanent service with the armed forces are not disadvantaged in pension terms. Individuals may have a number of pension options dependent on their personal circumstances. Also, reservists who undertake service under section 24 and section 25 Reserve Forces Act 1996 (Full Time Reserve Service and Additional Duties Commitments) receive a pension under the Reserve Forces Pension Scheme.
	The terms and conditions of volunteer Territorial Army (TA) reservists serving on man training days, voluntary training or other duties are such that they do not attract entitlement to an armed forces pension. Typically the service is short and intermittent, unlike regular service, and would produce trivial pensions under an occupational pension scheme.
	An Employment Tribunal held in June 2007 accepted that the MOD had justifiable reasons for excluding reservists serving on man training days, voluntary training or other duties from the armed forces pension schemes. It affirmed that the Department's longstanding approach of paying an annual bounty for volunteer reserve service, in recognition of the different terms and conditions, remains valid.

Terrorism: Ethiopia

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that the British defence attaché in Addis Ababa is given the necessary resources to provide security training advice in support of the Ethiopian Government's action against international terrorism.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence coordinates its overseas training programmes with other Government Departments, and resources are allocated according to overall Government priorities on counter terrorism. It is not the practice of the Government to make public the details of such assistance to individual countries as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice international relations.

Trident

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 21 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1605W, on Trident, how much highly enriched uranium the UK had on the latest date for which data is available.

Des Browne: The most recent published figure for the Department's holdings of highly enriched uranium is 21.86 tonnes held as at March 2002. This figure was published in the "Historical Accounting for UK Defence Highly Enriched Uranium" report, in March 2006, which is available via the MOD website:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/HealthandSafetyPublications/Uranium/HistoricalAccountingForUkDefenceHighly EnrichedUranium.htm

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency arrangements are in place for the operation by civilian contractors of unmanned aerial vehicles in the event of their unavoidable unavailability.

Bob Ainsworth: The civilian contractors providing support to Hermes 450 Unmanned Air Vehicle operations in theatre maintain a team of five trained individuals for this role, although only one is deployed to theatre at any one time. This provides some contingency should any one individual become unavailable.
	Other work is in hand to develop additional contingency, including for the unlikely eventuality that all civilian contractor support become unavailable: this includes the planned introduction of an automatic Global Positioning System Take Off and Landing system.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will come into service; and when the contracts of the Hermes 450 UAV end.

Bob Ainsworth: The Watchkeeper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has an approved in service date of February 2011, but it is currently expected to enter into service in 2010. The existing contract for the Hermes 450 UAV runs until July 2009 and allows for extensions as necessary to meet operational requirements.

Veterans Day

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to mark Veterans day 2008.

Derek Twigg: 27 June 2008 marks the third annual Veterans day event. As in the last two years, the MOD has allocated substantial funding to support community Veterans day events across the UK; further details of the criteria and how to apply for funding are on the Department's veterans' website at www.veterans-uk.info
	All MPs were invited to a Veterans day reception at Portcullis House on 16 January where I encouraged all MPs to support Veterans day events in their own constituencies. An important way in which MPs can become involved in Veterans day is through a presentation of the HM armed forces veterans badge. This provides a clear opportunity to celebrate the achievements of veterans by showcasing their individual stories and demonstrating how they personify the qualities we respect in our armed forces.
	I announced on 29 January that Blackpool will host the national Veterans day event for 2008. Also to date we are aware of around 30 other UK towns and cities which will be hosting large Veterans day events on or around 27 June with many other smaller events around the country. I will be in a better position to advise on the overall level of funding support that we will provide after the closing date for funding applications, which is 31 May. Advice is being promulgated to the armed forces to encourage senior staff and units to support Veterans day events where operational commitments allow this. We are also working closely with ex-service organisations to facilitate their involvement. Consideration is being given to a number of other ways of promoting Veterans day 2008 but I cannot give details at this time.
	I will make a statement to the House in due course.

Members: Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Minister for the Olympics when she plans to reply to the letter dated 19 September 2007 from the right hon. Member for Banff and Buchan, on her constituent W. J. Wood of Longside.

Tessa Jowell: The letter from the right hon. Member for Banff and Buchan has been forwarded to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which is the Department with responsibility for this matter.
	A response to the right hon. Member, from the Minister for Sport has been sent on 7 February 2008.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many  (a) fatalities and  (b) serious injuries incurred in the construction of the Olympic precinct for the 2012 Olympic Games have been recorded to date.

Tessa Jowell: Since work started at the Olympic Park site in the autumn of 2005 there have been no fatalities on site. The ODA has also just marked their second period of 1,000,000 worker hours without a reportable incident.
	Since 2005, there have been 11 personnel accidents reportable to the HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). One of these incidents is classified as major, but the individual who sustained a major injury, as classified under RIDDOR, has now returned to work.
	The ODA's current accident frequency rate (reportable accidents measured against working hours) is 0.17 compared with an estimated average construction industry AFR (accident frequency rate) of 1.2.

Olympic Games 2012: Disabled

Mark Harper: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2008,  Official Report, column 746W, on Olympic Games 2012: disabled, what barriers there are to building all Olympic village units to the lifetime homes standard.

Tessa Jowell: In my previous answer of 4 February 2008,  Official Report, column 746W, to the hon. Member for Forest of Dean, I stated that as many of the Village units as is practicable will be built to Lifetime Homes Standards. This commitment is reflected in Section 106 of the Planning Permission (clause 13.10.1) for the Village site.
	Lifetime Homes incorporate 16 design features that apply to both the interior and exterior of a home, ranging from socket positions to the structural capacity to install hoists. There are challenges in meeting all of these features in the nearly 4,000 residential dwellings that will form the Olympic Village legacy. For example, the Lifetime Homes' requirement for parking, its proximity to the home and space width; this may not be achievable for all residential dwellings in the Village given the nature of the build as multi level blocks in an urban environment.
	Despite these constraints, the ODA's vision for the accessibility of the Village is ambitious. They are working to ensure that the Village project not only meets all legal requirements on accessibility but also places the needs of future residents at its core. The Access and Inclusion Forum and Access Panels (Transport and Built Environment) play a key role in the ODA's consultation and assurance process. Each stage of the build is subject to rigorous review and the Principal Access Officer works alongside the Village project team to advise on specific inclusive design features.

Olympic Games 2012: Facilities

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what involvement the London Fire Brigade has in the design and construction of Olympic facilities.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 5 February 2008
	The London Fire Brigade is fully engaged with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the Olympic Delivery Authority over planning for the Olympics. A fire engineer seconded to the ODA from the brigade has been in post since September 2006. He provides on site fire safety and risk assessment advice and ensures that the design and construction of facilities meets regulatory requirements.
	The London Fire Brigade also works on Olympic planning with relevant Government Departments, with the Metropolitan Police, and with other partners and is a key part of the Olympic Security Directorate which co-ordinates security issues for the games.

Olympic Games 2012: Fairtrade Initiative

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with  (a) Cabinet members,  (b) representatives of other Government departments,  (c) the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games 2012 and  (d) the Olympic Development Agency on (i) ethical and fair trade issues and (ii) the use of child labour in the manufacturing of merchandise for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and on which dates such discussions took place.

Tessa Jowell: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) are committed to promoting ethical principles consistent with the Olympic Charter.
	Following correspondence with DFID Ministers, a meeting of officials from GOE and DFID will discuss how to encourage fair and ethical practices as an integral part of delivering the Olympic programme. The letter of invitation was copied to Cabinet Office, CLG, DEFRA, FCO and HMT.
	As a result, on 23 October, officials from the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) met officials from Cabinet Office, DFID, FCO, ODA and LOCOG to discuss ODA and LOCOG commitment to the ethical and fair trade agenda.
	The ODA seeks to work with suppliers who have a good track record in human rights and use goods and materials produced ethically. This includes seeking suppliers who do not have discriminatory practices and who do not use child or bonded labour. Officials from DFID are also discussing with ODA officials whether it can play a role in the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative's (CoST) development and implementation which aims to increase transparency and accountability in construction procurement.
	On 27 November 2007, I helped to launch the London 2012 Sustainability Plan—'Toward a One Planet 2012'. This sets out that LOCOG suppliers, sponsors and licensees are required to comply with the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code, which addresses child labour as well as broader labour conditions, trade union membership, and non-discrimination issues and will be applied to all appropriate contracts.

Olympic Games 2012: Visits Abroad

John Hayes: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many working days have been spent to date by people employed in connection with hosting the London 2012 Olympics on study visits to  (a) former Olympic venues and  (b) China.

Tessa Jowell: The experience of past Olympic host cities and that of the organisers of the forthcoming Games in Beijing is invaluable in informing our preparations for the London 2012 Games.
	Since London won the bid on 6 July 2005, in my role as Minister for the Olympics at DCMS and now at Cabinet Office, I, Richard Caborn and officials have been on six Olympic study visits to Beijing, Turin and Barcelona. Relevant staff accompanied Ministers on these visits, and records indicate that officials (including press officers and a Special Adviser) have spent a total of around 57 working days in these cities.
	According to Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) records, it is estimated that around 40 working days to date have been spent on study visits by employees, in particular focusing on transport, security and legacy.
	In addition LOCOG, the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, which is a private company also regularly undertakes visits to former host cities. These are not publicly funded.

Olympic Games 2012: Warrington

Helen Southworth: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps she is taking to ensure that the benefits of the London Olympics are shared by the people of  (a) Warrington and  (b) the North West.

Tessa Jowell: The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) are working hard to ensure the benefits of 2012 reach across the UK and have established a Nation and Regions Group to oversee this work chaired by Charles Allen.
	The North West Steering Group is represented on the Nations and Regions Group and leads the work of the region in delivering benefits in sport, culture, volunteering, business and tourism. The Steering Group includes representation from organisations such as the North West Regional Development Agency, Sport England, and Culture Northwest, alongside representatives from the five sub-regions. Cheshire and Warrington has established its own 2012 Steering Group, which mirrors the regional structure and reports directly to the North West group. Warrington borough council is represented on this group.
	On 16 January 2008, the Olympic Family launched the London 2012 Business Network in Manchester, helping businesses across the country access and compete for 2012 related contracts. The challenge is now on businesses to sign up and get support. 17 contracts to date have been won by businesses registered in the North West.

Committee on Business Appointments

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what definition of lobbying is used by the Committee on Business Appointments; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  on how many occasions the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments has interviewed an ex-Minister on the nature of an appointment he or she proposes to take up while still serving as an hon. Member in the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments requires former Ministers who are still hon. Members to submit a detailed description of their responsibilities and duties in proposed outside employment before considering whether to impose any conditions on them before they take up such employment.

Edward Miliband: These are matters for the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. I have asked the Chairman of the Committee, the right hon. Lord Mayhew of Twysden, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House for the reference of Members.

Correspondence: Government Departments

John Horam: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the  (a) service first guidance and  (b) other guidance to Government Departments about answering correspondence from the public is in force; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office guidance for Departments on "Handling Correspondence from Members of Parliament, Members of the House of Lords, MEPs, and Members of Devolved Assemblies" contains guidance to Departments on how to handle correspondence from members of the public. A copy of the guidance is in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Travel

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on travel  (a) within and  (b) outside the UK for officials in each of the last 10 years; and what percentage of his Department's overall expenditure was spent on such travel in each such year;
	(2)  how much was spent on travel  (a) within and  (b) outside the UK for officials in the Prime Minister's Office in each of the last 10 years; and what percentage of the Prime Minister's Office's overall expenditure was spent on such travel in each such year;
	(3)  how many overseas visits by officials in the Office of the Prime Minister took place in each of the last 10 years; which countries were visited; and how much was spent on such visits in each such year;
	(4)  how many overseas visits by officials in his Department took place in each of the last 10 years; which countries were visited; and how much was spent on such visits in each such year.

Tom Watson: The Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.
	The information requested is not held centrally and is therefore available only at disproportionate cost.
	All official travel is undertaken in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in "Government Accounting" and the Treasury handbook on "Regularity and Propriety".
	The Government publishes on annual basis information about overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers. This includes details about the number of officials accompanying the Minister when non-scheduled travel is used for the trip. Copies of the annual publications are available in the Libraries of the House.

EU Reform: Treaties

Tom Levitt: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the European Union on the provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon on  (a) European civil society and  (b) the European compact.

Jim Murphy: I have been asked to reply.
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers regularly meet their EU counterparts, as well as a broad range of external stakeholders, to discuss a range of issues including the Treaty of Lisbon. For example, in January 2008, I met the National Council for Voluntary Organisations where the issue of the proposed "EU Compact" was raised. The issue was also raised at a meeting on 4 February between FCO Ministers and a range of stakeholders.

Official Residences

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what date the Government House in Pimlico was advertised for sale.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	Agents are being appointed this month following a tender to advise on disposal.

Crown Prosecution Service

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Solicitor-General how many and what proportion of cases in each Crown Prosecution Service area were discontinued  (a) in the interests of justice and  (b) by reason of evidential insufficiency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Vera Baird: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) records show that, during the year ending December 2007, proceedings in respect of 25,743 defendants were discontinued or withdrawn at court because pursuing the cases was deemed not to be in the public interest. That figure represents 2.4 per cent. of defendant cases referred for prosecution during that period.
	During the same period, proceedings against 53,541 defendants were discontinued or withdrawn at court because the evidential test contained in the Code for Crown Prosecutors was not satisfied. That figure represents 5 per cent. of defendant cases referred for prosecution.
	All cases are reviewed in accordance with the Code, and a prosecution can only proceed if the two tests set out in the Code are met. Firstly, a Crown prosecutor must be satisfied that there is enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. This is an objective test which means that a jury or bench of magistrates or judge hearing a case alone, properly directed in accordance with the law, is more likely than not to convict the defendant of the charge alleged.
	If the case passes the evidential test, the Crown prosecutor then has to consider whether a prosecution is required in the public interest. A persecution will usually take place unless there are public interest factors tending against prosecution that clearly outweigh those tending in favour.
	The review of a case is a continuing process, and Crown prosecutors must take account of any change in circumstances. This may mean that a case is either discontinued or withdrawn at court if there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction or if it is not in the public interest to continue.
	The tables at annex A outline the volume and proportion of cases discontinued or withdrawn at court in comparison to other outcomes and provide data in respect of each CPS area for the years ending December 2007 and December 2006. Table 1 shows the volume and proportion of cases recorded as having been dropped as against all outcomes. CPS records disaggregate prosecutions dropped into four broad categories: evidential; public interest; unable to proceed and other reasons. Table 2 compares total prosecution dropped outcomes with total unsuccessful outcomes, convictions and all outcomes.
	The tables at annex B show the reasons for dropped prosecutions in each of the four broad categories.
	All tables have been placed in the Library.

Crown Prosecution Service: Finance

Harry Cohen: To ask the Solicitor-General what representations she has received on the level of funding for the Crown Prosecution Service covering North East London.

Vera Baird: I have not received any representations on the level of funding for the Crown Prosecution Service covering north-east London.

Fraud: VAT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Solicitor-General how many missing trader intra-community fraud cases have been investigated by HM Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office since its creation; and how many it is currently investigating.

Vera Baird: The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) was established as an independent prosecuting authority in April 2005, and is superintended by the Attorney General. It prosecutes cases referred to it by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency. It does not conduct investigations.

Fraud: VAT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Solicitor-General how many individuals have been  (a) prosecuted and  (b) convicted on charges relating to missing trader intra-community fraud brought by HM Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office since its creation.

Vera Baird: The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) was established as an independent prosecuting authority in April 2005, and is superintended by the Attorney-General. It prosecutes cases referred to it by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency. It does not conduct investigations.
	As at the end of December 2007:
	 (a) 417 defendants had been prosecuted for offences relating to missing trader intra-community fraud, this figure including 55 defendants who are currently the subject of live proceedings; and
	 (b) 178 defendants had been convicted of offences relating to missing trader intra-community fraud.

Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office

Mark Hoban: To ask the Solicitor-General what meetings she has had with the director of the HM Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office in each of the last 12 months.

Vera Baird: I was appointed Solicitor-General on 28 June 2007 and since my appointment I have met the Director on four occasions:
	29 June 2007—An Introduction for new Ministers
	11 July and 18 October 2007—Routine business meetings
	5 December 2007—One to one meeting.

Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office: Fees and Charges

Mark Hoban: To ask the Solicitor-General what the reasons are for the fee structure introduced by HM Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office in September 2006; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) was established as an independent prosecuting authority in April 2005, and is superintended by the Attorney General. It prosecutes cases referred to it by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency.
	RCPO introduced new arrangements for counsel fees in September 2006 to standardise rates paid to counsel in all of its cases, to encourage prompt billing and to bring certainty and clarity to the amounts owing to counsel at any point in time. The system is based on published fixed fee rates and is more transparent than the previous system, which involved a negotiation between both parties after the fee notes had been sent by counsel to the Department.
	The new arrangements were commended by the Comptroller and Auditor General in his report on RCPO's 2006-07 accounts. He noted that:
	"The new processes for agreeing counsel fee expenditure and estimating all related accrued liabilities has significantly enhanced the Department's ability to manage this key element of its expenditure".
	RCPO continues to apply the new arrangements and has witnessed a further improvement of control over counsel fees in 2007-08. The great majority of fee notes are now submitted within one month of the date the work was performed and the number of fees relating to cases that pre-date the introduction of the new arrangements has diminished significantly.

Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office: Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Solicitor-General what the budget of the HM Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office  (a) has been in each year since its creation and  (b) will be in each year of the spending review period.

Vera Baird: The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) was established as an independent prosecuting authority in April 2005, and is superintended by the Attorney-General. It is a separate Government Department from HM Revenue and Customs.
	The budget of RCPO (in £000) in each financial year  (a) since its creation has been:
	
		
			   Budget of RCPO (£000) 
			 2005-06 37,885 
			 2006-07 36,366 
			 2007-08 36,726 
		
	
	and  (b) in each financial year of the spending review period
	
		
			   Budget of RCPO (£000) 
			 2008-09 36,397 
			 2009-10 36,072 
			 2010-11 35,749

Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office: Operating Costs

Mark Hoban: To ask the Solicitor-General what the net operating cost of HM Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office was in 2006-07.

Vera Baird: The net operating cost of Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) in 2006-07 was £32,006,772.

Revenue and Customs: Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Solicitor-General whether the rates for legal fees paid for HM Revenue and Customs prosecutions have changed since HM Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office was established.

Vera Baird: The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) was established as an independent prosecuting authority in April 2005, and is superintended by the Attorney-General. It prosecutes cases referred to it by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency.
	RCPO introduced new arrangements for counsel fees in September 2006. Key features of the new arrangements were the introduction of standard rates that eliminated the need for negotiation between RCPO and chambers, raised transparency and increased the accuracy of RCPO's accounts.
	The standard rates introduced reflected those prevailing at the time with some small adjustments to ensure consistency. Following their introduction the rates were reviewed in the final quarter of 2007 and some further small adjustments were made.

Chequers

Eric Pickles: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the value is of the payments that have been made to Chequers from the public purse in each year since 1997-98;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the Chequers Trust Deed.

Gordon Brown: On the Chequers grant I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor (Mr. Blair) on 11 October 2004,  Official Report, column 54W and 13 February 2003,  Official Report, column 948W. In addition, I refer the hon. Member to the Freedom of Information release on Chequers, available on the Cabinet Office publication scheme:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/foi/reading_room/topic/chequers.aspx
	Figures for addition financial years are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Grant (£) 
			 2004-05 980,000 
			 2005-06 900,000 
			 2006-07 950,000 
		
	
	The Chequers Trust Deed is scheduled to the 1918 Chequers Estate Act and was amended and scheduled to the 1958 Chequers Estate Act. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

China: Human Rights

Don Foster: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what steps he took on his visit to China in January 2008 to encourage the Chinese authorities to facilitate freedom of movement and expression in China for both domestic and international press in the run-up to the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and afterwards;
	(2)  how many meetings he had with Chinese officials at which media freedom was discussed during his visit to China in January 2008.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the Members for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) and Southend, West (Mr. Amess) on 25 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2280W.

Departmental Reorganisation

Bob Spink: To ask the Prime Minister how much the rebranding of Government departments cost the public purse following his taking of office.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Members for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr. Hayes) and Guildford (Anne Milton) on 10 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1465-6W.

Joint Intelligence Committee: Public Appointments

Lynne Jones: To ask the Prime Minister what the process is for the appointment of the chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee; and whether applications are invited or solicited.

David Davis: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to his statement of 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 841, on national security, what progress has been made on the separation of the position of Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee from Policy Adviser to the Government.

Gordon Brown: The positions of Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee and policy adviser to the Government have been separated, as I announced on 25 July.
	I approved the appointment of Alex Allan as Joint Intelligence Committee Chairman and Head of Intelligence Analysis on the recommendation of the Cabinet Secretary and with the agreement of the First Civil Service Commissioner. As Mr. Allan was a serving Permanent Secretary, this was a managed move.
	Robert Hannigan was appointed to the policy adviser and co-ordinator role and is Head of Intelligence, Security and Resilience in the Cabinet Office. His responsibilities include strategy and resourcing of the Security and Intelligence Agencies; security policy, including information assurance; counter-terrorism, resilience, and the effectiveness of continuity of Government and crisis arrangements.

Members: Surveillance

Ben Wallace: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to the answer of 12 September 2007,  Official Report, column 2103W, on Members: surveillance, whether the word interception is used in the answer with the same definition as contained in section 2 (i) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Gordon Brown: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 12 September 2007,  Official Report, column 2103W.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

David Cameron: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what sanctions he plans to impose on the government of Sudan in light of the failure to deploy the UNAMID force in full and on time; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he plans to encourage the imposition of a no-fly zone over Darfur in 2008;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to encourage the development of a UN arms embargo on Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I welcome UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's 5 February agreement with President Bashir to accelerate the deployment of UNAMID. UNAMID is already behind schedule and the sooner the United Nations and the African Union secure prompt and effective deployment, the sooner the situation on the ground can stabilise. President Bashir must honour these commitments.
	In considering additional measures, beyond UNAMID, we would need to assess the logistical challenges of implementation and their impact on humanitarian efforts. We have not ruled anything out including the imposition of no fly zones. UNAMID is mandated to monitor military activity, including flights prohibited by UNSCR 1591.
	The prospect of further United Nations sanctions, as advocated by the United Kingdom and the United States, combined with persistent persuasion by the UN Secretary-General among others, helped bring the government of Sudan to agree to UNAMID in 2007. So I will continue to be clear that we will pursue further targeted sanctions against any party that undermines resolution of the crisis in Darfur, including by impeding UNAMID deployment. This was a key element of my discussion with Premier Wen when I visited China in January, and I will continue to make the case with other members of the Security Council that sanctions must be one of a range of measures to bring resolution of the crisis in Darfur.
	I continue to believe the UN arms embargo on Darfur should be extended to the whole of Sudan: the United Kingdom delegation to the United Nations, most recently in the UN Sanctions Committee meeting of 6 November 2007, is pursuing this initiative. We have the support of our United States and European allies, but we do not have the consent of all members of the Security Council. That is why we continue to make the case, especially to permanent members of the Security Council, that extending the arms embargo should be part of a range of measures to bring resolution of the crisis in Darfur.

Community Relations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent progress has been made on reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: A Consultative Group on the Past, chaired by Lord Eames and Denis Bradley, was set up by the then Secretary of State, the right hon. Peter Hain, in June 2007 to seek consensus across the community in Northern Ireland on the best way to deal with the legacy of the past 40 years; and to make recommendations, as appropriate, on any steps that might be taken by Northern Ireland society in building a shared future that is not overshadowed by the events of the past.
	The group completed its public consultation on 25 January 2008 and is currently reflecting on the responses received. I look forward to receiving the group's report this summer.

Consultative Group on the Past

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many written responses have been received by the Independent Consultative Group on the past in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: I am informed that in response to its public consultation, which ended on 25 January 2008, the Consultative Group on the Past received 245 written submissions. In addition to these, the group also received 2,061 similarly worded letters which it believes to have been part of a co-ordinated campaign.

Crime: Victims

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to ensure the families of victims of serious crimes are informed that those convicted of these crimes are being transferred between prisons in Northern Ireland and others  (a) within the UK and  (b) in the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: I have instructed that the Prisoner Release Victim Information Scheme includes an undertaking that the Northern Ireland Prison Service will inform registered victims if the perpetrator of the crime is transferred to a prison in another jurisdiction. This arrangement will also provide victims with a contact in that jurisdiction for further information.

Crimes of Violence: Offensive Weapons

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the merits of bringing forward proposals to create specific offences of  (a) carrying and using a knife in a violent attack and  (b) carrying a knife in a violent attack in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: These situations would be covered by existing legislation on possession of a bladed or offensive weapon. However my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has recently emphasised the seriousness with which the Government regard knife crime. I shall shortly lay before Parliament proposals to increase the penalties for the carrying, manufacturing and selling of knives in Northern Ireland to a maximum of four years in prison. I have also increased the age at which knives can be purchased from 16 to 18 years of age.

Economic Performance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the economic performance of Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The Government published their assessment of the UK economy in the pre-Budget report, which will be updated in the Budget. The Government have not published a separate assessment of the Northern Ireland economy as this is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.
	Sir David Varney's review of tax policy in Northern Ireland published in December 2007 found that Northern Ireland's recent economic performance has been good and that it has the lowest unemployment rate of any region in the UK. He found, however, that this promising growth masks some significant structural concerns, which he will address in his second review of competitiveness in Northern Ireland announced in December 2007.

Fair Trade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his Department's policy is on the use of fair trade goods  (a) in staff catering facilities and  (b) at official departmental functions and meetings; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The Government are committed to improving market access to producers in developing countries through increased participation in fair and sustainable supply chains. Each Government department is responsible for making its own decisions on such products, against the background of the Government's value for money policy, the EC procurement rules and the Department's objectives.
	My Department does use a range of Fair Trade produce.

Northern Ireland Government: Irish Language

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Government is taking to implement the provisions of the  (a) Good Friday and  (b) St. Andrews agreement in relation to the Irish language.

Shaun Woodward: Irish language is primarily a matter for the devolved administration.
	Following the Belfast agreement the Government signed up to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, under which 36 provisions representing measures to promote the use of Irish in public life have been adopted. In addition a statutory duty to encourage and facilitate the development of Irish-medium education was placed on the Northern Ireland Department of Education by the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998.
	The Government have also taken steps to increase access to Irish language broadcasting, with TG4 (formerly known as Teilifís na Gaelige) now available in 90 per cent. of households. Plans are in place to ensure that these levels are maintained following digital switchover in 2012. The Government also established an Irish Language Broadcast Fund to provide financial support for Irish language film and television production.
	Following the St. Andrews agreement the Government introduced the Northern Ireland (St. Andrews Agreement) Act 2006, section 15 of which puts the Northern Ireland Executive under a duty to adopt a strategy setting out how it proposes to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language. The Government also published two consultation papers on Irish language legislation, the first on 13 December 2006 and the second, containing draft clauses for such legislation, on 13 March 2007. The responsibility for this passed to the devolved administration following the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly on 8 May 2007.

Northern Ireland Prison Service: Crimes of Violence

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of assault against staff have been reported  (a) at prisons and  (b) at the Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre in Northern Ireland in each of the last 12 months; of those incidents, how many have resulted in (i) prosecutions and (ii) convictions; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The information is as follows:
	 (a) In the majority of cases prisoners who assault prison officers will be charged under prison rules and will be subject to an adjudication before a Governor. The matter is either concluded at the adjudication or the adjudication is postponed pending referral to the police for investigation with a view to prosecution. This does not preclude a Governor deciding to call in the police in the immediate aftermath of an assault occurring, whether prisoner on prisoner or prisoner on staff.
	
		
			  Month  Number of staff assaulted  Comments 
			 February 2007 1 at Maghaberry Still awaiting prosecution decision 
			
			 March 2007 2 Maghaberry escort officers at court Still awaiting prosecution decision 
			
			 April 2007 1 Maghaberry escort officer at court Involved a male juvenile at court. He was transferred to a Juvenile Justice Centre before charges under Prison and Young Offender Rules could be preferred. 
			
			 May 2007 2 Maghaberry officers Still awaiting prosecution decision 
			
			 June 2007 3 (1 Maghaberry officer, 2 Magilligan officers) Still awaiting prosecution decision in the Maghaberry case. The police have forwarded a file on the 2 Magilligan cases to the PPS to determine if prosecution will follow. Result awaited. 
			
			 July 2007 0 — 
			
			 August 2007 0 — 
			
			 September 2007 6 (4 Maghaberry escort officers at court, 2 Magilligan officers) 4 Maghaberry staff were assaulted by a 15-year-old juvenile at Laganside court. Of the 2 Magilligan cases, one prison adjudication charge was withdrawn. Prosecution decision is still awaited in the other case. 
			
			 October 2007 4 (3 Maghaberry escort officers at court, and 1 at the prison) Still awaiting prosecution decision in these cases. 
			
			 November 2007 1 Maghaberry escort officer at court The prisoner who caused the injury was released at court before charges under prison rules could be preferred. 
			
			 December 2007 2 Magilligan officers Still awaiting prosecution decision in these cases. 
			
			 January 2008 2 Maghaberry officers In both cases the adjudication has been adjourned. 
			
			 Total 24  
		
	
	 (b) The information provided by Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre is set out as follows. In the majority of cases young people who are involved in assaults on staff will be subject to the consequences of the progressive regime (an incentivised behaviour management programme where young people can earn additional privileges through good behaviour) and suffer loss of privileges earned. Where the matter is deemed to be an unprovoked assault or when the intervention of staff during physical control in care procedures develops into a serious incident and staff are injured these are deemed as assaults. Those which are of a serious nature will be reported to the police for investigation with a view to prosecution. The outcome of these police investigations is not known at this time.
	
		
			  Month  Number of staff assaulted  Comments 
			 January 2007 0 — 
			 February 2007 2 PSNI contacted relating to 1 incident 
			 March 2007 2 PSNI contacted relating to 1 incident 
			 April 2007 3 Minor incidents dealt with through progressive regime 
			 May 2007 5 PSNI contacted relating to 1 incident 
			 June 2007 6 PSNI contacted relating to 1 incident 
			 July 2007 2 Minor incidents dealt with through progressive regime 
			 August 2007 2 PSNI contacted relating to 1 incident 
			 September 2007 1 PSNI contacted 
			 October 2007 4 PSNI contacted relating to 2 incidents 
			 November 2007 0 — 
			 December 2007 0 — 
			 Total 27 —

Prisoners' Transfers

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to prevent the exploitation by prisoners in Northern Ireland of the transfer system to other prisons within the rest of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The transfer of prisoners between UK jurisdictions is governed by Schedule 1 to the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. Each application is assessed on its individual merits, taking into consideration:
	1. the purpose for which the transfer is requested;
	2. whether the prisoner was ordinarily resident in the jurisdiction to which transfer is sought prior to the imposition of the current sentence; or whether members of the prisoner's close family are resident in that jurisdiction and there are reasonable grounds for believing that the prisoner will receive regular visits from them; or whether the prisoner has demonstrated through preparations that he has made for his life following release from prison that he intends to reside in the receiving jurisdictions upon release and he is in the later stages of his sentence;
	3. whether there are grounds for believing that the prisoner may disrupt or attempt to disrupt any prison establishment, or pose an unacceptable risk to security; and
	4. any compelling or compassionate circumstances.
	Prisoners are only transferred from Northern Ireland to serve their sentences in England and Wales if they meet these criteria.
	I have instructed the Director of the Prison Service to refer any request for a transfer to England and Wales by a prisoner serving a sentence in Northern Ireland, to me.
	A prisoner transferred to England and Wales could potentially benefit from the 18 day end of custody licence scheme, if they met the criteria for that scheme which includes the provision that the sentence must be less than four years.
	If it is clear that the sole purpose of the transfer application is to gain advantage from the ECL, that application would be refused.

Proscribed Organisations: Arrests

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many suspected members of dissident Republican terrorist organisations have been arrested in Northern Ireland since 1 September 2002; how many of those arrested have been  (a) charged and  (b) convicted of offences; how many of those arrested were released as a result of charges being withdrawn or otherwise abandoned; and for what reasons in each case.

Paul Goggins: The PSNI do not maintain statistics that attribute incidents to individual paramilitary groupings. However the following table provides information on those arrested and those subsequently charged with terrorist offences. The other information requested would necessitate a manual trawl which would incur a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Number of persons arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act by attribution( 1) :( ) 1 September 2002 to 31 December 2007 
			   Persons arrested  Persons arrested and subsequently charged 
			   Loyalist  Republican  Other  Total  Loyalist  Republican  Other  Total 
			 1 September 2002 to 31 March 2003 126 58 — 184 57 22 — 79 
			 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 203 133 3 339 70 30 2 102 
			 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 150 81 — 231 42 35 — 77 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 198 71 4 273 61 11 — 72 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 84 92 1 177 21 35 1 57 
			 1 April 2007 to 31 December 2007 44 62 2 108 20 9 — 29 
			 (1) Attribution is as perceived by PSN1 based on the information available at the time of arrest and does not necessarily indicate the involvement of a paramilitary organisation.  Note: Statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.

Tourism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tourists visited Northern Ireland in 2007; and what steps the Government plan to take to increase the number of such tourists.

Shaun Woodward: Following the restoration of devolution on 8 May 2007 Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive became responsible for the running of the Northern Ireland Departments. Tourism policy and promotion is the responsibility of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and its partner agencies.
	I am advised that an estimated 2,051,000 tourists visited Northern Ireland in 2007.

Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre: Crimes of Violence

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are to be introduced to give better protection to staff working at the Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre following the recent attack on three staff members.

Paul Goggins: Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre operates a risk management strategy to protect both staff and young people in its care. Individual risk assessments are carried out on all young people in the centre and these are constantly reviewed and updated as required.
	All operational staff must make themselves aware of the Individual Crisis Management Plan (ICMP) and any other risk assessment for each young person in their care. They also carry a Blick personal alarm at all times. They are trained in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and Physical Control in Care (PCC) techniques and suitable protective equipment is available to staff during PCC operations.

Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre: Crimes of Violence

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional funding and training is to be given to staff working at the Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre following the recent attack on three members of staff and whether self-defence training will be provided; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Mandatory Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and Physical Control in Care (PCC) training is provided to all operational staff within the Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre and this includes suitable refresher training as appropriate. "Breakaway Technique" is a specific element of the PCC training which provides guidance to staff on how to safely remove themselves from dangerous situations.
	The existing TCI and PCC training programmes are considered appropriate to meet current requirements. However, further training in relation to mental health is presently being explored.
	Local management constantly review and update the risk assessments posed by the young people in the Centre and should additional training requirements be identified then these will be addressed.

A38: Plymouth

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2318W, on A38: Plymouth, what the collision rate was for each month in the last five years for trunk roads similar to the A38 in Devon.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency assesses the relative safety of sections of trunk road based on the number of collisions per 100 million vehicle-kms. The figure enables valid comparisons to be made, allowing the collision figures for any section of road irrespective of length, to be viewed in perspective. For shorter lengths of road it is advisable to assess collisions as an average over a period significantly longer than a month, usually at least three years, to minimise the effects of year-on-year variations.
	The following table gives collision rates for dual carriageway sections of trunk road in Devon and Cornwall similar to the A38 near Plymouth. The figures are based on the most recent five-year period for which relevant data are available.
	
		
			  Devon and Cornwall collision data using latest available five-year data ,  1 October 2002 to 30 September 2007 
			  Road section  Collisions per 100 million vehicle-kms 
			 A30 Camborne-Chiverton Cross 16.08 
			 A30 Garland Cross-Indian Queens 14.74 
			 A30 Innis Downs to Higher Carblake 11.77 
			 A30 Temple to Dunheved 14.71 
			 A30 Dunheved to J31 7.71 
			 A38 Moorswater to Trerulefoot 19.21 
			 A38 toll booths to J31 12.28 
			 A38 Marsh Mills to Ivybridge 12.57 
		
	
	For comparison the national injury collision rate for all types of trunk road is 14.9 per 100 million vehicle-km.

A628

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the safety of the A628; and what instructions she  (a) has given and  (b) plans to give the Highways Agency to implement safety measures on the route before 2012.

Tom Harris: Selected safety improvements schemes have been programmed to be carried out at locations on the A628 where high rates of incidents occur. There are four phases to these schemes, three of which have been completed. The final phase will start in April 2008 and is programmed to complete in summer 2008.
	Safety studies have also been undertaken for the A628 as part of the A57/A628 Mottram Tintwistle bypass project. The results have been published and are part of the information provided at the public inquiry into the bypass proposals.

A628

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent by her Department's agencies  (a) in preparation for the A628 Mottram to Tintwistle bypass public inquiry and  (b) in total to date.

Tom Harris: The A57/A628 Mottram Tintwistle bypass public inquiry started in June 2007. It has taken three years of preparation to get to this stage. Approximately £11.8 million costs have been incurred by the Highways Agency in the preparation for the public inquiry of the scheme.
	The total cost to date including the public inquiry related costs is approximately £13.7 million.

Air Routes: Felixstowe

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  for what reasons the decision was taken to increase the number of flights flying over Felixstowe; and what factors were taken into consideration before making the decision;
	(2)  who took the decision to increase the number of flights over the Felixstowe peninsula and A12 corridor into Essex.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There has been no recent change to airspace arrangements over Felixstowe. The number of flights results from traffic demand from airports in the area and overflying requirements. This is an operational matter for NATS, the air navigation services provider, and I suggest the hon. Member directs his inquiries to the Chief Executive of NATS.

Ashbourne Bypass

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to allocate adequate funding and support for the construction of a bypass route around the town of Ashbourne in West Derbyshire constituency.

Rosie Winterton: Responsibility for a bypass of Ashbourne rests with Derbyshire county council, the local highway authority. It is for the county council to determine its priorities for local transport investment and to make bids for funding to the Department through the regional funding allocations process—the regional statement of priorities. The county council has yet to make such a bid for a bypass of Ashbourne.

Aviation: EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration she has given to exemptions from the EU emissions trading scheme in circumstances where overall emissions from aircraft are lower than those of alternative forms of transport for comparable routes.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government have a commitment to ensure that aviation reflects the cost of its climate change impacts. The question of emissions from other modes of transport does not directly impact on this. Including aviation in the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) forms a crucial part of our climate change strategy, however as part of the negotiations on the inclusion of aviation in the EU ETS, member states agreed in December to exempt all flights operating under a public service obligation with an annual capacity threshold of less than 30,000 seats.

Aviation: Pollution

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent research her Department has  (a) commissioned  and (b) evaluated on the effects of aircraft (i) air pollution and (ii) noise on populations underneath a flight path.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport has not, in recent years, commissioned research on air pollution or noise under flight paths that are some distance from airports. Air quality impacts from aviation are believed to be quite localised with limited ground level effect from emissions above 100 m.
	The Secretary of State announced the conclusions of the 'Attitudes to Noise from Aviation Sources' (ANASE) study (commissioned in 2001) on 2 November 2007, including a letter of explanation to all MPs. The full report and related papers are available in the Libraries of the House, and on the Department' website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/environmentalissues/Anase/
	The Secretary of State launched the consultation 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport' on 22 November 2007 which runs until 27 February 2008. This reports on the outcome of a three-year programme of assessment of the environmental impacts in the Heathrow area.

Aviation: Public Participation

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements are in place by which members of the public who are affected by the decisions of the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services concerning overflying and air safety measures may hold those bodies to account.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has a clear process for deciding upon airspace changes, as set out in the Airspace Charter (CAP724) and Guidance on the Airspace Change Process (CAP725).
	Sponsors of airspace changes, mostly NATS, the air navigation services provider, or airports, are responsible for developing and consulting upon proposals. Detailed guidance is given on what impacts are to be taken into account, how they should be measured and who should be consulted. Informed by the consultation, the sponsor submits the proposal to the CAA's Directorate of Airspace Policy for assessment. In determining whether to accept or reject a proposal, the CAA's process reflects the Secretary of State's Directions and Guidance to the CAA on the exercise of its statutory duties and environmental objectives.
	There is no direct statutory right of appeal against the Director of Airspace Policy's decision. However, the Airspace Change Process requires that the CAA review an airspace change 12 months after implementation to determine whether the airspace change, as approved, has been implemented and whether the anticipated safety, capacity, efficiency and environmental benefits have materialised.

Aviation: Suffolk

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the likely effect of expansion of  (a) Heathrow and  (b) Stansted airport on the height at which planes fly over Suffolk.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It is not for the Secretary of State for Transport to assess the effect of expansion at  (a) Heathrow and  (b) Stansted on the height at which planes fly over Suffolk.
	Subject to Government policy support for expansion at Heathrow and Stansted, it is a commercial decision for the airport operator, BAA, to determine whether to pursue expansion plans.
	If they do, BAA would seek the support of NATS, the air navigation services provider, to develop a detailed airspace change proposal in accordance with arrangements under the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)'s independent Airspace Change Process. CAA Guidance on the Application of the Airspace Change Process (CAP725) provides detailed advice on the process. It would be for the CAA's Director of Airspace Policy to assess any airspace change proposal against regulatory requirements and determine whether any such change should be approved.

Aviation: Turkey

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress she has made in contacting the Turkish Director General of Civil Aviation on behalf of the hon. Member for Forest of Dean.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department is still awaiting a substantive response from the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation regarding an incident on 7 September involving Onur Air. It is actively pursuing this matter with the Turkish authorities. In the meantime, Onur Air is subject to safety inspections from the Civil Aviation Authority.

Biofuels: Garages and Petrol Stations

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many UK petrol stations sell ethanol fuels.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 6 February 2008
	Petrol containing small amounts of ethanol is widely available at a large number of UK filling stations and is suitable for use in any petrol-engined vehicle. This type of petrol is sometimes referred to as "E5 fuel", because it contains less than 5 per cent. ethanol by volume. Petrol pumps dispensing E5 fuel do not need to be labelled any differently from regular petrol pumps, and the Government do not keep data on the number of petrol stations selling E5 fuel at any given time. Information on the total amount of ethanol sold in the UK is, however, available via the HMRC website at http://www.uktradeinfo.com. This shows that in 2007, for example, around 150 million litres of ethanol were blended into UK petrol (some 0.6 per cent. of total UK petrol sales).
	Certain types of vehicle, sometimes referred to as "flex-fuel" vehicles, can run on much higher blends of ethanol. There are around 20 filling stations in the UK selling petrol containing up to 85 per cent. ethanol by volume ("E85 fuels"). Details on the location of these filling stations are available via the Energy Savings Trust's website at:
	http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Bull Bars: Regulation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations cover the driving of a vehicle fitted with bull bars that was imported as such; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Vehicles that are imported into the UK have to meet the requirements of the single vehicle approval scheme and currently this scheme does not cover bull bars. The Department will be consulting shortly on amending the scheme to require all bull bars on imported vehicles to meet the technical requirements contained within Directive 2005/66/EC.

Concessionary Fares Scheme

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1352W, on the concessionary fares scheme, if she will break down by main budget heading the £1 billion spent by Government annually on the scheme.

Rosie Winterton: Between 2000 and 31 March 2006 the statutory minimum bus concession was half fare off-peak local bus travel within an eligible resident's local authority area. During this period funding to local authorities for the statutory minimum concession through Formula Grant was not separately identified. However, local authority spending on concessionary travel at the end of this period was almost £500 million per year and a significant proportion of this expenditure would have been sourced from Formula Grant funding.
	From 1 April 2006, with the improvement to the statutory minimum concession to free off-peak local bus travel within a resident's local authority area, the Government provided an extra £350 million in 2006-07 and a further £367.5 million in 2007-08. This was accompanied by allocations of £69 million and £72 million in these two years to the devolved administrations under the Barnett Formula.
	For the further improvement to the statutory minimum concession to England-wide travel from 1 April this year, the Government are providing an additional £212 million special grant funding in 2008-09. This equates to £250 million when allocations to the devolved administrations under the Barnett Formula are included. This takes our best estimate of total central Government funding for statutory concessionary travel in 2008-09 to around £1 billion.

Cycling: Road Traffic Offences

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take in each of the next two years to raise awareness of the consequences of cyclists going through a red traffic light; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Highway Code details the legal responsibilities of all road users and was revised last year. There is no excuse for any road user to ignore red traffic lights. It puts both the perpetrator and other road users in danger. All road users should obey all road traffic laws and treat others with respect. Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has written to all chief police officers asking them to take action against cyclists going through red lights.
	We are supporting Bikeability the new national standard for cycle training. We have made funds available to Cycling England to train 500,000 children by 2012. We believe better training of children will lead to better behaviour by cyclists on the road as well as encouraging children to continue to cycle as adults.

Driver and Vehicle Licence Agency: Correspondence

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have claimed that letters sent to the DVLA register changes of ownership had been lost in the post in the last two years; what discussions she has had with Royal Mail and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on this issue; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information is not held in the form requested.
	Under the terms of its contract with the Royal Mail, DVLA monitors their performance in the distribution of mail from Swansea. Mail sent by customers to DVLA is not covered by this contract. Customers sending letters to DVLA make their own arrangements with the Royal Mail. Nevertheless, in exceptional circumstances, DVLA does ask Royal Mail to search for items that have been reported as lost on their way to the agency.

Driving Tests

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to her statement of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 624, on Department for Transport data storage, what internal rules are used by Pearson Driving Assessments to ensure compliance with UK data protection law.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The contract between the Department for Transport and Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd. requires the latter to comply with obligations equivalent to those imposed on the Department, as a data controller, as stated by the seventh principle of the Data Protection Act 1998. This principle requires that appropriate technical and organisational measures be taken against unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data.
	Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd. is ISO 27001 accredited. Pearson has appointed an independent internal auditor to annually review the design and operation of the control procedures performed by Pearson Driving Assessments Ltd.

Driving Tests

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance she has issued to the Driving Standards Agency on factors to be taken into account when deciding on the location of driving test centres.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Ministers have agreed the Driving Standards Agency's (DSA) published 'Code of Practice on Written Consultations—Driving Test Centres'. This was revised in July 2005 and is available on the DSA website at:
	http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Consultation.asp?id=SXBAF2A 7825C59&cat=418
	DSA needs to provide a safe environment for staff and customers, and to fulfil the demand for services in a cost efficient manner. With these aims in mind DSA considers the following factors when deciding on the location of driving test centres:
	a network that enables demand for tests and average waiting time targets to be met;
	that most customers should only have to travel a reasonable distance to take their test in relation to where they live;
	that theory test centres should be centrally located on public transport routes;
	practical test centres must be in an area where a sufficient number of suitable test routes can be provided. Adequate parking for candidates is needed in close proximity to the test centre;
	the facilities available in all workplaces must satisfy health and safety and other statutory requirements. Local factors including propensity for assaults, vandalism and break-ins should also be considered;
	the cost of the test centre including rent, rates and running costs must be viable and the terms of the lease or other property agreement must be acceptable and sufficiently flexible to satisfy DSA's future requirements; and
	ideally full-time, permanent test centres should provide off-road car parking, waiting areas and toilets for the use of candidates and be fully DDA compliant.

Driving Under Influence: Accidents

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many road accidents involving young people caused by drivers found to be impaired by drugs there were  (a) in total and  (b) in each police authority in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many young people subsequently found to be under the influence of drugs died as a result of road traffic accidents  (a) in total and  (b) in each police authority area in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of reported personal injury road accidents involving at least one young driver/rider (aged 17 to 24) with impairment by drugs (illicit or medicinal) as a contributory factor for 2005 and 2006 in Great Britain is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of accidents 
			 2005 177 
			 2006 189 
		
	
	The number of young driver/rider (aged 17 to 24) fatalities resulting from reported road accidents in which the driver/rider had impairment by drugs (illicit or medicinal) as a contributory factor in 2005 and 2006 in Great Britain is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of fatalities 
			 2005 6 
			 2006 9 
		
	
	Information on contributory factors is not available prior to 2005 and is not available at police authority level.
	The contributory factor "impairment by drugs" applies to illicit drugs as well as all medicines, whether prescription or 'over the counter'. It is not possible to separate the factor into illicit and medicinal drugs.
	This factor is recorded in accidents in which the police officer's opinion at the time of reporting is that the driver/rider was affected by drugs and behaved in a way which caused, or contributed to, the accident. This may not be the result of a drug screening test.

Durham Green Developments Limited

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings  (a) Ministers,  (b) special advisers and  (c) civil servants in her Department have had with representatives of Durham Green Developments Limited in the last 36 months.

Tom Harris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his question on 22 January 2008,  Official Report, column 819W, in respect of Durham Green Business Park. There have been no other meetings with representatives of Durham Green Developments Ltd.

Fares: Non-payment

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will estimate the loss of revenue from fare evasion on the railways in each of the last five years.

Tom Harris: The Department does not hold such information, though as we made clear in our Rail White Paper last summer we believe the industry's reported figure of 5 per cent. to be an underestimate. For this reason we have required operators to implement a structured revenue protection strategy as part of all franchise agreements entered into since 2004.
	Further steps were outlined to support revenue protection in the White Paper published last summer—including reviewing the role of gating schemes. Among recent franchises, the Department is securing commitments to gating schemes such as those for Birmingham New Street and London Waterloo.

Fares: Non-payment

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many on-the-spot fines were issued for fare evasion and possession of an incorrect ticket on trains in each of the last five years; and how much revenue this has generated.

Tom Harris: The train operators do not impose "on the spot fines" for either fare evasion or incorrect tickets. Where a passenger has no ticket and they are travelling in a penalty fare area, they will be charged £20 or double the fare for their journey whichever is greater. This is not a fine, that is to say it is not additional to the fare but a penalty rate for the journey. Outside of penalty fare areas passengers may be charged for a full standard fare—without the right to discounts available before boarding. This does not apply to some local services where pay on the train applies.
	The railways also issue excess fares. This is where someone has the wrong ticket and is charged the difference between the ticket held and the correct one—such as where they travel between two points along a route that is not allowed by their ticket.
	The DfT does not hold information on these categories of fares.

First Great Western: Standards

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to improve  (a) seating comfort and  (b) capacity on services provided by First Great Western.

Tom Harris: The White Paper published in the summer included a commitment to 1,300 extra carriages. They will be targeted at the most congested routes on the network.
	On 30 January the Department for Transport published its rolling stock plan. This shows indicative numbers of rolling stock per train operating company. 52 additional vehicles are shown for First Great Western. The rolling stock plan explains that these numbers are not intended to be prescriptive, or to limit the development process with the industry, and could therefore be subject to change in the final outcome.

First Great Western: Standards

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) complaints and  (b) representations on the (i) provision of services and (ii) performance by First Great Western services in Hampshire were received by her Department in each month since May 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: In the last 12 months Ministers and officials at the Department for Transport have received many representations regarding various aspects of First Greater Western operations. Ministers remain very concerned about First Great Western's performance, and want to see improvements matching those seen elsewhere in the industry.

Freight: Foreigners

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the Government have taken to ensure that foreign-registered haulage vehicles on British roads comply with the requirements of EU legislation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has a specific responsibility to help ensure that all commercial vehicles and drivers comply with the law, irrespective of whether their operating base is in the UK, or elsewhere. Additionally, VOSA has significantly stepped up the level of enforcement activity in respect of commercial vehicles undertaking international journeys since the beginning of 2006-07.
	The Government have also introduced new provisions in the Road Safety Act 2006 so that—in addition to prohibiting vehicles and drivers for various offences—both VOSA and the police will be able to issue fixed penalties to offenders, regardless of nationality. The Department is aiming to make all the necessary secondary legislation to implement these provisions as soon as possible.

Freight: Roads

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the Government have taken to assist the British haulage industry since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The most significant actions the Government have taken have been announced in Budget and pre-Budget reports (PBRs), and the highlights of these are the focus of this response.
	The Government announced in 1999 their intentions to engage more fully with hauliers when it announced the creation of the Road Haulage Forum. This forum offered the industry, through representative organisations such as the Freight Transport Association (FTA), Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), the opportunity to meet regularly with Ministers to explore any industry problems and discuss possible solutions.
	The setting up of the forum was followed by the PBR 2000 announcement of the Road Haulage Modernisation Fund which offered £100 million to the UK trucking industry. The modernisation fund was part of a package including a £220 million VED rebate and a freeze on fuel duties.
	PBR 2005 saw the creation of the Haulage Industry Task Group (HITG). The group's aim was to develop a stronger evidence base to inform the Government's future policy decisions. The RHA and FTA were represented on this group, and the HITG reported its findings at PBR 2006. PBR 2005 also saw the Government announce £2 million for new enforcement equipment for VOSA.
	PBR 2006 announced that the Government would undertake a feasibility study into options for better enforcement against foreign hauliers including a time-based charging system for use of UK roads (a vignette). A progress report was published last November.
	Following on from last year's Budget announcement that there had been a significant increase in targeted checks by VOSA of vehicles on international journeys, PBR 2007 announced an extra £2 million a year would be dedicated to the Government's ongoing drive to enforce road safety law for hauliers, with the focus particularly on those undertaking international journeys.
	The Department also operates a Freight Best Practice programme which aims to reduce the environmental impact of the freight industry through improved operational efficiency. The industry benefit over the last two years has shown savings of £83 million. The free advice that the programme offers is available at www.freightbestpractice.org.uk and further information on other actions the Government have taken to assist hauliers is available at:
	www.dft.gov.uk

Galileo

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account was taken of the Transport Committee's recommendations (First Report, Session 2007-08, HC 53) on the Galileo project in the Government's subsequent position in European Union decisions on Galileo; whether any changes were made to the Government's position as a result of the Committee's report; how much the UK is committed to contribute to this project; and what discussions she has had with the Chairman of the Select Committee on this matter.

Rosie Winterton: The Government welcomed the report of the Transport Select Committee, which agreed with much of our analysis on both the significant potential benefits of the programme and the questions giving cause for concern.
	The Government's negotiating position at ECOFIN and Transport Councils was endorsed by Parliament following a debate in European Standing Committee on 26 November 2007. We worked with other member states to meet our concerns, and successfully reached agreement on the need for robust control of costs, clear and transparent governance and maximum competition in procurement.
	The UK has directly committed funds of €142 million as an ESA member state for the ESA element of the design and development phase of the programme. As EU member states contribute to the EC budget as a whole, rather than to individual spending programmes within it, there is no specific UK contribution to the EC budget funded element of the development and subsequent deployment costs for Galileo.
	There have been no specific discussions between departmental Ministers and the Chairman of the committee on Galileo since publication of the report, but it was a subject raised at the Transport Select Committee hearing on 30 January 2008.

Heathrow Airport

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in relation to the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport public consultation document what is  (a) the current proportion of twin-engined aircraft to four-engine aircraft using Heathrow airport and  (b) the assumed proportion of twin-engined aircraft to four-engine aircraft used in projecting future noise and environmental modelling contained in the consultation document; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 25 January 2008
	Four-engined aircraft are estimated to account for some 15 per cent. of the fleet at Heathrow in 2005. The noise and environmental modelling reported in the Heathrow consultation documents assume an increase in the proportion of twin-engined aircraft over time, with the proportion of four-engined aircraft declining to around 12 per cent. under a mixed mode scenario (2015) and 6 per cent. under a third runway scenario (2020). These forecasts are informed by current, known airline fleet replacement plans and discussions with airlines on likely future trends. More detail on the fleet composition is set out in the two supporting technical reports: ERCD Report 0705 on noise exposure estimates and AEA report on emission summaries, both available on the DFT website:
	www.dft.gov.uk

Lorries

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when the study commissioned by her Department in December 2005 into longer heavier vehicles will report; and whether the full report will be published;
	(2)  what consultants have been employed by her Department in relation to the study commissioned in December 2005 into longer heavier vehicles.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The study was commissioned in October 2006 following a decision in December 2005 by the then Minister of State for Transport, the hon. Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman), to refuse applications from two hauliers each wishing to trial a goods vehicle longer and heavier than those currently permitted. This updates information provided in my answer of 17 December 2007,  Official Report,
	columns 1117-8W.
	A freight transport consultant from Faber Maunsell was appointed to manage the study, with the research work being undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) and Heriot-Watt university. The full report should be published by the end of February.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Emergency Calls

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many 999 calls the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has answered in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has collected statistics about the total number of reported incidents to Coastguard Rescue Co-ordination Centres for many years, but more precise information on the number of 999 calls received has only been collected reliably since April 2006. From April to December 2006 Coastguard Rescue Co-ordination Centres received 18,066 calls and in 2007 received 21,321 calls to the end of November (the latest period for which information is available).

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the number of  (a) motorcars and  (b) motorcycles being used on the road without the payment of vehicle excise duty in each region in each year since 2001.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Estimates of the number of unlicensed vehicles being used on the road in each region are not available.
	However, the estimated rate of unlicensed vehicles seen in traffic is available for each region. These estimates represent evasion among vehicles travelling in each region, which may be different from the region in which each vehicle's keeper lives. Due to small sample sizes estimates are not available for motorcycles, but are available for vehicles in the private and light goods tax class, as follows:
	
		
			  Rate of unlicensed vehicles in traffic 
			  Percentage 
			  Region  2002  2004  2005  2006 
			 East of England 3.1 1.8 2.2 2.1 
			 East midlands 2.2 1.5 1.6 1.7 
			 Greater London 4.5 2.1 1.8 2.1 
			 North-east 2.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 
			 North-west 2.8 2.0 1.7 2.5 
			 Scotland 1.6 2.3 1.9 2.3 
			 South-east 2.8 1.8 2.0 1.9 
			 South-west 2.6 1.4 1.5 1.7 
			 Wales 2.8 1.9 2.9 2.7 
			 West midlands 2.3 1.8 2.2 1.5 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 2.4 1.8 1.6 2.2 
		
	
	Roadside surveys were not conducted in either 2001 or 2003 and estimates are therefore unavailable for these years.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorists failed to pay vehicle excise duty in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The estimated numbers of unlicensed vehicles in use in Great Britain are as follows:
	
		
			  Thousand 
			   Estimated number of unlicensed vehicles in use  Of which, number liable for vehicle excise duty  Of which, number exempt from vehicle excise duty 
			 1999 1,337 1,277 60 
			 2002 1,905 1,770 135 
			 2004 1,240 1,168 72 
			 2005 1,549 1,459 90 
			 2006 2,170 2,089 81 
		
	
	Roadside surveys were not conducted in 2000, 2001 or 2003 and estimates are therefore unavailable for these years.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the number of  (a) motorcars and  (b) motorcycles being used on the road without insurance in each region in each year since 2001.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Our latest estimate (2005) for uninsured driving is based on a comparison of the vehicle register, maintained by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing agency and the Motor Insurance Database. The estimate is about 2.1 million licensed vehicles (about 6.5 per cent. of the UK fleet) are being driven by uninsured drivers. There is no similar comparison for earlier years and no separate information for motorcars and motorcycles or by region.

Network Rail

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals  (a) she and  (b) the Office of Rail Regulation has for enhancing the accountability of Network Rail to its train operator customers.

Tom Harris: Network Rail is accountable through its network licence and to its customers through its contracts and industry codes. The ORR keeps these under review.

Official Cars: Carbon Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what volume of carbon dioxide was emitted from ministerial vehicles in each year for which information is available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not recorded and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. The figure for the ministerial fleet is currently 147.62 grams per kilometre (g/km). However, the average CO2 emission profile for all new cars purchased since April 2006 is currently 130 g/km.

Pollution

Nick Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects the Government to ratify the  (a) Convention on Hazardous and Noxious Substances 1996,  (b) Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness and Co-operation/Hazardous and Noxious Substances 2000,  (c) Anti-Fouling Convention and  (d) Ballast and Water Management Convention; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The United Kingdom, together with many other EU and third country states, has not yet ratified the "International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) by Sea 1996", because of a number of technical and legal difficulties with the current text. To overcome these difficulties the International Maritime Organization's Legal Committee will consider the text of a new draft legal instrument at its meeting in October 2008. This legal instrument is likely to be in the form of a protocol. Once new text has been agreed at IMO, the UK will take the necessary steps to ratify the convention, as amended by the protocol.
	The UK intends to accede to the "Oil Pollution Preparedness Response and Co-operation (OPRC) Convention Protocol 2000" as soon as possible, following the introduction of secondary legislation later this year.
	Legislation to implement the "International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships 2001" ("Anti-Fouling Convention") is currently in draft and will be issued for public consultation later this year. The Government will ratify the convention once this consultation has been satisfactorily completed and the legislation is in place.
	The Government intend to begin work on implementing and ratifying the "International Convention for the control of ships ballast water and Sediments 2004" ("Ballast Water Convention"), once outstanding issues relating to the availability of treatment systems and the associated guidance are resolved through the International Maritime Organization.

Railway Stations: Bicycles

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with Network Rail and train operating companies on the provision of secure bicycle parking at stations; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The rail White Paper "Delivering a Sustainable Railway" announced the setting up of a Cycle and Rail Task Force (CRIT) to look into how bike and rail journeys can be better integrated. The task force includes ATOC, Network Rail, Passenger Focus, Cycling England and the Department for Transport. Secure bicycle parking is one of the issues which the task force will be considering.

Railway Stations: Bicycles

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has considered setting minimum standards for the provision of secure bicycle parking at major railway stations.

Tom Harris: Guidance on the provision of secure bicycle parking is contained in the DFT Bike and Rail Policy document that was published by the former Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) in 2004 and since adopted by the Department for Transport. This can be found on the department's website at:
	www.dft.gov.uk
	This guidance was referenced in the Invitations to Tender for the recent rail franchise awards when directing bidders to submit proposals for improving facilities at stations for cyclists.
	The new Cycle and Rail Task Force was created to help the Government get right the detail of the franchising regime with respect to the integration of bike and rail.

Railways: Concessions

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effects of the terms of the young persons railcard on the purchase of rail passes and season tickets; and what representations she has received on extending the use of such railcards for peak time travel.

Tom Harris: The young persons railcard is a product targeted at promoting leisure travel. The terms and conditions of use are such that it should not affect the purchase or demand for rail passes and season tickets.
	No formal representations have been received in respect of the extension of use of young persons railcards to embrace commuter travel, though it allows peak time travel subject to minimum fare levels.

Railways: Fares

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to limit the increases in rail fares for rail users without season tickets.

Tom Harris: holding answer 1 February 2008
	In addition to most season tickets, fares regulation encompasses standard day singles and returns in urban commuter areas and saver fares for long distance travel (or a standard day return for long distance journeys where there was no saver). Regulated fares are usually limited to average fares increases of RPI+1, though operators are free to raise individual fares up to RPI+6 per cent. so long as this is matched by decreases in other regulated fares on their network.
	Other fares are unregulated—train operators are free to set prices as they wish subject to competition from coach, air travel and car.
	The Department continues to listen to the representations of Passenger Focus and has invited them to take a greater role in commenting on the specification of future franchises.

Railways: Fines

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints were made following on-the-spot fines on the railways in each of the last five years; and how many of these were upheld.

Tom Harris: The train operators on the National Rail network do not issue on the spot fines and therefore there have been no complaints regarding them. In areas where a Penalty Fares Scheme is in place, passengers travelling without tickets, or who for other approved reasons are liable to be issued with a penalty fare notice, are subsequently entitled to make an appeal. The approved appeals bodies themselves keep records of all such appeals.

Roads: East Anglia

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions her Department has had with officials in the European Commission on the prioritisation of funding for the trans European Road Network in East Anglia; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 24 January 2008
	The Department put forward a bid under the TEN-T multi-annual bidding round. The UK bid package included two East Anglia road schemes on the A14, funding for works on the A14 between Ellington and Fen Ditton, and between Haughley to Stowmarket. The EC awarded a TEN-T grant of €80.7 million (£60.1 million) on 27 November. We are now in talks with the Commission to finalise how this award will be divided between the different schemes within our bid package.

Rolling Stock

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the rolling stock plan does not include new diesel rolling stock for the South-Central franchise; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the complement of such stock on the  (a) Brighton-Ashford and  (b) Uckfield-London line.

Tom Harris: Bidders for the replacement South Central franchise, for which invitations to tender will be issued later this year, will be required to demonstrate how they plan to match capacity to demand for all the routes in the franchise, including the Uckfield and Ashford lines.

Shipping: Climate Change

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the implications of climate change for the UK marine shipping industry.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It is important to place UK shipping firmly in context as part of an industry which operates worldwide and is best regulated on a global basis. The Government recognise that shipping generates greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change. Consequently, the Government are working actively within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to limit greenhouse gas emissions and other atmospheric emissions from ships. At the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting held in July 2007, the UK argued strongly for the IMO to be both swift and bold in bringing forward measures. The July 2007 Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting considered control measures for greenhouse gas emissions from ships, and set up a correspondence group with a remit to examine possible technical, operational and market-based measures to address greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The correspondence group will report to the next meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, which is from 31 March to 4 April 2008. It is the aim of the IMO to agree on recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships at their assembly in the autumn of 2009.
	As regards solutions, market-based measures such as emissions trading are one important area, while in the medium to long term technological improvements may also deliver savings in carbon emissions. For example, the IMO have estimated that technical measures for ship design have significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which could account for up to 30 per cent. in new ships and 20 per cent. in existing ships.

Shipping: Working Conditions

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department plans to take to improve health and safety for workers in the shipping industry.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Primary responsibility for the health and safety for workers in the shipping industry rests with their employers. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has a responsibility for enforcement of the relevant health and safety legislation and also issues guidance on a wide range of health and safety matters. For the future, the UK is committed to implementing the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention, including those relating to the health and safety of seafarers.

Southeastern Railway: Access

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding has been given to Southeastern Railway under the Access For All Scheme since its introduction.

Tom Harris: Southeastern Trains have been offered £764,185 of Access for All Small Schemes funding since 2006. Projects worth £174,361 have been completed and the remainder are on-going.

Transport: Finance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much  (a) revenue support and  (b) capital allocations for (i) Hampshire, (ii) Portsmouth and (iii) Southampton for (A) urban bus challenge, (B) kick start, (C) rural safety grant and (D) detrunked roads (1) there were in each year since 2005 and (2) are planned for each of the next three years.

Rosie Winterton: The following tables sets out the revenue and capital support for these four specific funding lines that the Department has provided from 2005-06 onwards and what is planned for the next three years for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton.
	No funds have been granted, or are currently planned to be awarded to any of the three authorities in the period specified for rural road safety grant, but the tables includes figures for the similarly named specific road safety grant.
	From 2008-09 onwards, the revenue support for detrunked roads and specific road safety grant will be incorporated within the general area-based grant, administered by CLG.
	
		
			  Revenue support 
			  £000 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			  Hampshire County Council   
			 Urban bus challenge — — — — — — 
			 Kick-start — 126.0 63.0 39.0 — — 
			 Detrunked Roads 428.7 439.4 450.4 461.6 473.2 485.0 
			 Specific Road Safety Grant — — 2,160 2,245 2,237 2,202 
			  Portsmouth   
			 Specific Road Safety Grant — — 312.7 325.1 323.8 318.8 
			
			  Southampton   
			 Urban bus challenge — 25 217 170 — — 
			 Kick-start — 204.7 132.8 85.0 — — 
			 Specific Road Safety Grant — — 288.1 300.0 310.5 305.6 
		
	
	
		
			  Capital allocations 
			  £000 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			  Hampshire County Council   
			 Specific Road Safety Grant — — 480.6 499.6 497.6 489.9 
			
			  Portsmouth   
			 Specific Road Safety Grant — — 69.6 72.3 72.0 70.9 
			
			  Southampton   
			 Specific Road Safety Grant — — 64.1 66.7 69.1 68.0

Afghanistan: Asylum

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures there are for processing asylum applications from locally-employed staff in Afghanistan.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	The 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees defines a refugee as a person who is, among other things,
	"outside the country of his nationality".
	An individual who remains in the country of nationality is not, by definition, a refugee and cannot seek asylum. A person who is outside the country of nationality should approach the local authorities in the third country or the UNHCR.

Bangladesh: Elections

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress made on voter list assembly and electoral reform in Bangladesh.

Kim Howells: When my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Bangladesh last week, he heard from the Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh that 36 million voters out of a total of approximately 80 million have now been registered. It is expected that the draft voter list will be ready by late June/July. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stressed to the Chief Adviser of the caretaker government, and in his public comments, the absolute necessity of holding free and fair elections by December 2008, in accordance with the caretaker government's roadmap to elections.

Bangladesh: Trade Unions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Bangladesh on its treatment of trade unionists, with particular reference to Mehedi Hasan; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made representations to the caretaker government of Bangladesh on the specific issue of the treatment of trade unionists. We consistently emphasise to the caretaker government the need to balance concerns for stability and security with respect for individuals' rights and freedoms, democratic processes and the rule of law.
	We are aware that Mr. Hasan was arrested on 24 January in connection with demonstrations by garment workers in the Mirpur area of Dhaka on 14 to 15 January and of reports of 100-150 people injured. Mr. Hasan was released on 3 February and all charges against him have been dropped.

Developing Countries: Elections

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to support the IFES in relation into the standards of electoral practice and democracy in other countries.

Meg Munn: The UK is committed to promoting democratic principles around the world. Our approach is grounded in our upholding universal human rights standards, to which all countries are bound, giving firm support to democratic institutions, good governance and the rule of law.
	We welcome and support the work the  Hansard Electoral Society is doing to improve standards of electoral practices abroad. We work closely with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the Electoral Reform International Services who are also active in this field.
	The UK participates most actively in international observation activities organised by the EU and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. We also participate in Election Observation Missions organised by the UN, Commonwealth and other groups. We frequently provide technical and administrative expertise to the organisers of these observation missions, as well as sending UK observers.
	Deploying election observers supports democratic processes and assists host countries to hold genuinely democratic elections.
	Further information on the Government's work on human rights, democracy and governance can be found in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Annual Report on Human Rights, which is available at
	www.fco.gov.uk
	Copies of the report are also available in the Library of the House. In addition, the FCO and the Department for International Development (DFID) jointly launched a DFID publication last summer, entitled "Governance, Development and Democratic Politics" which highlighted the value we jointly place on democratic politics as a set of principles and values which ensure that differences can be negotiated peacefully and the views of all heard.

EU Internal Relations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) representations and  (b) discussions he has had on a solidarity clause on mutual assistance between EU member states in the event of terrorist attacks or natural disasters; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no representations or discussions on the Solidarity Clause with other EU member states.

European Commission: Diplomatic Service

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of HM Diplomatic Service were seconded to the European Commission in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 1 February 2008
	There is currently one diplomatic service officer seconded to the European Commission.
	There are in addition three diplomatic service officers seconded to the General Secretariat of the Council and one to the European Parliament. Other Government Departments also second staff to the European Commission.
	Figures for diplomatic service staff seconded to the European Commission in each of the previous 10 years could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Gaza: Electricity

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of electricity supply into Gaza; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Government remain deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza. In the current season the Gaza strip requires at least 230 megawatts (MW) of power daily. The total it currently receives, when fuel supplies to the Gaza power station are not interrupted, is around 192 MW, of which approximately 55 MW is provided by the Gaza Power Generating Company (GPGC), 120 MW by Israel and 17 MW by Egypt.
	The electricity and fuel supply in recent weeks has been erratic, primarily because of the decision by the Government of Israel on 17 January to suspend all fuel deliveries into Gaza. On 20 January, the GPGC stopped producing power when its reserves became too low to continue. The UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs has stated that during this time, the majority of the Gaza Strip had no electricity for at least eight hours per day. Many areas suffered power cuts of up to 16 hours. Electricity cuts in the Gaza strip remain at an average of eight hours daily.

Iraq: Asylum

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Iraqi citizens have been  (a) admitted to the UK and  (b) awarded financial assistance under the scheme of assistance for locally engaged Iraqi staff announced by the Prime Minister on 8 October 2007.

David Miliband: No former locally-engaged Iraqi staff have yet been resettled in the UK through the Gateway programme. Following the initial assessment of eligibility, individuals need to move to a third country, register with and be recognised by the Office of the UN-High Commissioner for Refugees as refugees in need of resettlement, undergo further screening by the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) and have suitable housing identified for them in the UK. This process takes several months, which is why we have promised financial assistance to former staff to allow them to support themselves in a third country during this process. We believe the timeframes for Gateway are comparable to similar timeframes for other countries' resettlement programmes.
	No current locally-engaged Iraqi staff have yet been granted Independent Leave to Enter. Many are still in the process of being assessed for eligibility and some already assessed as eligible have yet to express a preference about which option they wish to take. Many of those already assessed as eligible have indicated they want the financial package. Those that choose resettlement in the UK will undergo screening by BIA. Measures are in place to ensure that eligible staff are fully assisted through the scheme without unnecessary delays.
	We have already paid 34 staff the financial package in accordance with the scheme. Further awards will be made on an ongoing basis.

Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK is taking in preparation for the 2010 Non Proliferation Review Conference on the adoption of measures governing withdrawal from the Non Proliferation Treaty; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The United Kingdom is working with partners to build consensus around measures to raise the cost of withdrawal from the non-proliferation treaty (NPT) at the 2010 review conference. These measures include automatic referral of the case of any state party seeking to withdraw from the NPT to the UN Security Council, a requirement that all material, equipment, technology and facilities acquired under NPT membership be restricted to peaceful uses and remain subject to safeguards; and that use of facilities, equipment and material supplied prior to withdrawal by third countries be frozen with a view to dismantlement and return. They are set out in full in the EU Working Paper (NPT/CONF.2010/PC.I/WP.25* available at http://www.un.org/NPT2010/documents.html) submitted at the 2007 Preparatory Committee.

Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials will represent the United Kingdom at the Seven Country Initiative seminar on the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty in Norway, on 26 to 27 February; and if he will post on his Department's website the United Kingdom's contribution to the seminar.

Kim Howells: The UK will take part in a seminar on nuclear disarmament to be hosted by the Government of Norway in Oslo on 26-27 February 2008, represented by two officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office: the Director of Defence and Strategic Threats and the Head of the Nuclear Missile Defence Policy Team. The UK has not been invited to make a presentation at the seminar.

Russia: Prisoners

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with the Russian government over access to prison medical care for Vasily Alexanyan.

Jim Murphy: We welcome reports that the Russian Federal Penal Service has finally responded positively to the concerns expressed by the European Court of Human Rights, the Russian Human Rights Ombudsman and to demands that Vasily Aleksanyan be moved out of prison to a specialised clinic where he can receive vital treatment for his condition. The UK regularly raises its concerns over ongoing human rights violations, including individual cases, both bilaterally and through the EU. The next EU/Russia human rights consultations will be held on 17 April.

Simon Mann

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reasons he has been given for the refusal by the government of Equatorial Guinea of access to Simon Mann by  (a) lawyers and  (b) UK diplomats.

Meg Munn: British consular officials were granted access and visited Simon Mann in prison on 12 February. We will continue to provide Mr. Mann with consular assistance.
	We have been given assurances by the Equatorial Guinean authorities that Mr. Mann will be free to appoint a lawyer.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the timetable is for full implementation of the UNAMID mission to Darfur; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for the delay in implementation.

Meg Munn: We are working very closely with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the African Union to help achieve the goal of the UN-African Union hybrid mission in Darfur's full deployment as soon as practicable. This will be extremely challenging as not all outstanding shortfalls, particularly helicopter capacity, have yet been filled. The UN-African Union hybrid mission in Darfur's deployment to Darfur is one of the most complex and logistically difficult that the UN has ever undertaken.

Sudan: Politics and Government

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has received reports of senior members of the Janjaweed Arab Militia being advisers or members of the Sudanese government; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Sudanese government has announced that it has appointed Arab leader Musa Hilal as an adviser to the Minister of Federal Affairs. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right Lord Malloch-Brown, raised UK concerns over the appointment of Musa Hilal in meetings with representatives of the Government of Sudan that he met during his visit to Sudan on 28-31 January. He made clear that the appointment was inappropriate as Musa Hilal is subject to UN sanctions. We pressed for UN action on Musa Hilal's appointment at the UN Sanctions Committee on 1 February.

Weapons: Proliferation

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress of EU member states in implementing effective export, transit, trans-shipment and re-export controls, including appropriate laws and regulations in relation to counter-proliferation, as called for in EU Council Common Position 2005/329/PESC of 25 April 2005.

David Miliband: The EU Council Common Position 2005/329/PESC of 25 April 2005 relates to the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The UK and other EU member states take seriously the need to ensure rigorous implementation of effective export, transit, transhipment and re-export controls in order to strengthen the international non-proliferation system, including the NPT. We regularly discuss with EU and other partners ways to enhance national and international efforts to counter proliferation, including, inter alia, by strengthening the NPT and export control regimes such as the Nuclear Suppliers Group, in which all EU member states participate.

Coroners

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to reform the coroners service in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The Government remain committed to reform of the coroner system and a Bill will be brought before Parliament as soon as time allows. We will introduce measures ahead of legislation which will help to achieve one of the fundamental aims of the Bill in providing a better service for bereaved families. These include strengthening Rule 43 of the Coroners Rules 1984 to help prevent future deaths, revising the Charter for the Bereaved for a reformed service, and working with the Press Complaints Commission to establish whether their code of practice for editors could be refined for the benefit of bereaved families.

Departmental Reorganisation

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how responsibility for property costs was allocated between his Department and the Home Office after the restructuring of the Department's responsibilities.

David Hanson: Responsibility for property costs for NOMS and the Prison and Probation Estates rests with the Ministry of Justice and those for the Home Office estate with the Home Office.

Macclesfield Magistrates Court

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases are due to be heard by Macclesfield Magistrates Court; and how long on average the waiting period was before a case was heard by the court in the latest period for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: As at 7 February 2008, there are 58 adult trials and two youth trials outstanding at Macclesfield magistrates court. As a result of the implementation of the Criminal Justice Simple Speedy Summary (CJSSS) programme in Macclesfield, there is not a backlog of cases. This information has been supplied directly from the court.
	The following table sets out estimates for the average time taken between the recorded date on which a defendant commits an offence to the date on which the defendant's case is first considered by a magistrates court for 2007. Information is not available for Macclesfield magistrates court separately. However, estimates have been provided for the Vale Royal Clerkship which includes combined information for Macclesfield magistrates court and Northwich magistrates court.
	The figures are from the Time Intervals Survey (TIS) and are based on defendants (adults and youths) in all criminal cases that were proceeded against in the magistrates courts.
	
		
			  Average time taken between date of offence to first listing for all defendants in completed criminal cases in magistrates courts, information for Vale Royal Clerkship and England and Wales, 2007 
			   Estimated average number of days from offence to first listing in magistrates court  Margin of error (+/- days)  Sample size (number of defendants) 
			 Vale Royal Clerkship 117 11 147 
			 England and Wales 117 1 59,353 
			  Notes: 1. Results are based on proceedings in one sample week in March and September. The Time Intervals Survey (TIS) is a sample survey that produces estimates of the average time taken between stages of proceedings for defendants in completed criminal cases in magistrates courts. More information on TIS is available on the Ministry of Justice website. 2. The margin of error is a measure of the precision of a result based on a sample survey. The true value is likely to fall within the range of the sample result +/- the margin of error. 3. 'First listing' refers to the first listed hearing of the case in the magistrates court. 4. Information is provided for the Vale Royal Clerkship which covers Macclesfield and Northwich magistrates courts. It is not possible to give estimates for 2007 for Macclesfield magistrates court separately.  Source: Time Intervals Survey (TIS), Ministry of Justice.

Police Custody

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were serving prison sentences in short-term police custody cells due to prison overcrowding at the latest date for which figures are available.

David Hanson: Operation Safeguard is the formal agreement between NOMS and ACPO, used at times of high population pressure, that allows for prisoners to be held in police cells temporarily while a suitable place is identified in a prison. Wherever possible, prisoners will be held in police cells for no more than one night.

Sentencing: Offensive Weapons

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were convicted of the possession of a knife in a public place in a crime hot spot in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many of those people received a custodial sentence; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The number of persons found guilty at magistrates courts, and the number of those found guilty who were given custodial sentences for the offence "Having an article with blade or point in public place", in England and Wales, for the year 2006 can be found in the following table.
	It is difficult to identify a "crime hotspot" as these are determined locally, based on locally held data, therefore the data have been broken down by police force area.
	From April 2007 police forces have been collecting data on serious violence offences involving a knife or sharp instrument to improve our understanding of the prevalence of these types of crime. The first full year's data will be available from July 08. The new data collection will provide specific information about the level of knife offences in serious violent offences which, over time, will provide trend data to support the Government and the police in identifying areas for which efforts to tackle knife crime should be targeted.
	
		
			  N umber of persons found guilty at magistrates courts and, of those found guilty the number who were given custodial sentences for the offence "Having an article with blade or point in public place", in England and Wales by police force area, for the year 2006( 1,2,3) 
			  Force  Found guilty  Found guilty and given a custodial sentence 
			 Avon and Somerset 168 30 
			 Bedfordshire 61 14 
			 Cambridgeshire 67 10 
			 Cheshire 83 16 
			 City of London 11 Nil 
			 Cleveland 75 9 
			 Cumbria 39 6 
			 Derbyshire 77 11 
			 Devon and Cornwall 119 17 
			 Dorset 66 10 
			 Durham 91 8 
			 Essex 173 44 
			 Gloucestershire 38 7 
			 Greater Manchester 389 46 
			 Hampshire 160 29 
			 Hertfordshire 84 13 
			 Humberside 123 0 
			 Kent 6 1 
			 Lancashire 143 16 
			 Leicestershire 111 10 
			 Lincolnshire 68 9 
			 Merseyside 218 38 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,680 293 
			 Norfolk 61 14 
			 North Yorkshire 57 6 
			 Northamptonshire 1 1 
			 Northumbria 215 18 
			 Nottinghamshire 144 16 
			 South Yorkshire 149 23 
			 Staffordshire 91 19 
			 Suffolk 106 20 
			 Surrey 37 7 
			 Sussex 138 25 
			 Thames Valley 177 28 
			 Warwickshire 30 2 
			 West Mercia 96 16 
			 West Midlands 380 63 
			 West Yorkshire 170 16 
			 Wiltshire 67 6 
			 Dyfed-Powys 29 2 
			 Gwent 56 5 
			 North Wales 113 20 
			 South Wales 153 31 
			
			 England and Wales 995 6,320 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Includes the following statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.I39 as amended by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 S.3.  Source: Court proceedings database held by RDS Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Ministry of Justice

Trade Unions

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with which trades unions his Department has a recognition agreement.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice has in place formal arrangements that recognise the following trade unions and employee representative bodies:
	FDA
	General Municipal Boilers (GMB)
	National Association of Probation Officers (NAPO)
	Prospect
	Prison Officers Association (POA)
	Prison Governors'' Association (PGA)
	Public and Commercial Services (PCS)
	Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
	Unite (includes TGWU/Amicus)
	Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT)
	UNISON.

Holocaust Educational Trust: Finance

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding has been allocated to the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust to help combat anti-Semitism and racism.

Jim Knight: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given in the House on 4 February 2008,  Official Report, column 646.

Local Employment Partnerships

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local employment partnerships are in operation; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Over 500 employers have now signed up, and over half of them are now up and running. In the north-east last week I signed partnership agreements with Sembcorp at the Wilton petrochemicals complex, and with Nissan at Sunderland. Over 2,000 disadvantaged jobless people have found work through Local Employment Partnerships so far.

Barnardo's

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has received a copy of the report Like any other child? issued by Barnardo's charity; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Secretary of State has receive a copy of the Barnado's "Like any other child?" report.
	The Government refute the allegation that there is a policy of enforced destitution of asylum seekers and their families. Those who cannot support themselves while their application is considered are eligible for support from the Border and Immigration Agency. Once their claim has been finally determined, those who have been successful are assisted to integrate into the local community. Those whose claims have failed are expected to return home.
	If they are temporarily unable to travel (for instance they need to obtain travel documents) they can be supported. In addition, where there are children under the age of 18 in a family whose claim was unsuccessful, they continue to be supported in the same way and to the same extent as they were before their claim was determined, until they leave the UK.
	Our policy ensures that there are support safeguards in place for families and the vulnerable and those who are unable to return home.

Housing Benefit

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes are being made to local housing allowance from April 2008; and what guidance has been given to local authorities accordingly.

James Plaskitt: Through the comprehensive and independent evaluation of local housing allowance (LHA) in the nine pathfinder areas, we have identified a number of changes to the scheme that will apply for national roll out.
	We will cap the maximum amount of LHA that someone can receive (before non-dependant deductions and means-testing rules are applied) at £15 a week over and above the amount they need to pay their rent to strike a balance between choice and work incentives. In the pathfinder areas, there was no cap on excess benefits.
	The criteria used to determine the appropriate size of property for a household will be simplified to be based on the number of bedrooms to ensure they are easier to apply and understand and better reflect the way in which properties are advertised in the private market.
	LHA rates will be set at the median market rent in an area, rather than (as now) the midpoint between highest and lowest. This will provide a more accurate system that reflects the distribution of rents in an area and will ensure 50 per cent. of the properties in the local area will be affordable for housing benefit customers.
	We will roll out LHA to new and existing customers who move home or have a break in their claim. In the pathfinders, some local authorities converted all of their private rented sector case load in one big bang approach.
	The Department for Work and Pensions has an extensive programme of support and advice to help local authorities with the introduction of the local housing allowance on 7 April 2008.
	The Department delivered 20 regional seminars for local authorities throughout summer 2007. A range of implementation and guidance products have already been made available to assist local authorities with specific activities, based largely on examples of good practice provided by LHA pathfinder authorities.
	We have developed a range of products to support local authorities in communicating with their stakeholders, particularly welfare rights organisations and landlords. A key aim of the LHA is to promote financial inclusion by encouraging tenants to have their benefit paid directly into their own bank accounts, and we have provided advice and information to local authorities to enable them to support their customers in opening bank accounts.
	The Department will continue to provide communications, advice and support to local authorities in the run-up to the roll out of the local housing allowance in April 2008.

Housing Benefit: Antisocial Behaviour

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many families in each local authority have had their housing benefit withdrawn because of their anti-social behavioural practices under the Government's Respect Agenda housing benefit trials;
	(2)  what level of proof is required for housing benefit to be removed under the Government's Respect Agenda housing benefit trials; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Eight local authorities are taking part in the pilot for the sanction of housing benefit (HB) related to antisocial behaviour. The pilot began on the 1 November 2007. To date no sanctions have been applied.
	A local authority can sanction HB as a result of anti-social behaviour where a person or partner ("a household") is the subject of an order for possession on grounds of antisocial behaviour and subsequently leaves the property; and, if in receipt of HB following re-housing, the household unreasonably refuses to engage with the help and support offered as specified in a written warning notice.
	In most cases, HB would be reduced, not removed.
	The local authority must be satisfied that the necessary conditions have been met for a sanction to be imposed and that the household did not comply with the requirements of the warning notice without "good cause". In making any decisions in this respect, the local authority must act reasonably.

Winter Fuel Payments

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received a winter fuel payment in  (a) Houghton and Washington, West constituency and  (b) the City of Sunderland in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: In winter 2006-07 we made 16,670 winter fuel payments to people in the Houghton and Washington, East constituency, and 54,090 winter fuel payments to people in the Sunderland local authority. We expect the numbers to be similar for this winter.
	 Notes:
	1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Parliamentary constituencies and local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	 Source:
	Information directorate 100 per cent data.

Whales: Nature Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he last discussed whaling with his foreign counterparts; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have raised the issue of whaling at every appropriate opportunity with members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
	The UK will continue to make clear our objections to those countries that support whaling, both before and during the forthcoming inter-sessional meeting of the IWC in March, and the next annual meeting in Chile in June.
	In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Hilary Benn) has written to 18 countries, encouraging them to join the IWC for the greater protection of whales.

Health For All, Have Your Say

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of development and publication of the document Health for all, have your say was.

Ann Keen: holding answer 7 February 2008
	This information is not held centrally and can instead be obtained directly from Wirral primary care trust.

Hospitals: Waiting lists

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what written representations his Department has received from NHS trusts on the 18 week waiting time target in the last six months; and if he will place copies of all such representations in the Library.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department receives a wide range of written representations on issues relating to 18 weeks from national health service trusts. Information on the number of representations received over the last six months and obtaining copies could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Information Centre for Health and Social Care: Data Protection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates in the last 12 months the Information Centre for Health and Social Care has physically transported data which contain personally-identifiable information; and what guidance the Information Centre for Health and Social Care has issued to its staff on how personally-identifiable information should be transported.

Ben Bradshaw: The Information Centre for health and social care frequently transports data containing personally-identifiable information, where approval has been given by the Patient Information Advisory Group.
	The Information Centre for health and social care has an information security policy, which ensures that all staff are made aware of their roles and responsibilities of the correct transportation of personally-identifiable information.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the statement made on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179, by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister and the written statement made on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS, by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Edward Miliband). The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A further report is expected in spring 2008.

NHS Business Services Authority: Data Protection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates in the last 12 months the NHS Business Services Authority has physically transported data which contain personally-identifiable information; and what guidance the NHS Business Services Authority has issued to its staff on how personally-identifiable information should be transported.

Ben Bradshaw: The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) transports a considerable volume of personally- identifiable data on virtually every working day.
	The NHSBSA has a data protection policy and an information security policy, which ensure that all staff are made aware of their roles and responsibilities for the correct transportation of personally-identifiable information. Staff also receive computer based training in data protection and information security which covers how information should be sent outside of the organisation. Reminders are also issued through a variety of internal communications mechanisms. The NHSBSA constantly reviews the security arrangements for data it is transporting.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the statement made on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179, by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister and the written statement made on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS, by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Edward Miliband). The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A further report is expected in spring 2008.

NHS: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member of Wyre Forest of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 657W, on NHS: finance, which new indicators are under consideration for inclusion in the Better Care Better Value indicators.

Ben Bradshaw: While further testing will be necessary it is likely that future publications by the National Health Service Institute will include indicators covering did not attend rates, ratios of new to follow-up appointments in outpatients and emergency readmission rates. The indicator set will be further expanded in subsequent quarters.

NHS: PFI

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 9 March 2007,  Official Report, column 2288W, on the NHS: private finance initiative, if he will state, for each of the schemes  (a) given the go-ahead and  (b) opened, the nature of the rebuild project, including any estimate of the number of beds within the rebuilt area.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	Information on the number of beds in each new build scheme could be collected only by going through each business case which would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  NHS Trust or PCT  Capital value (£ million)  Financial Close/Tender award date  Operational date  Scheme description 
			  Hospital build schemes approved to proceed (and under construction) 
			 Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 19 23 December 2004 15 February 2008 Elderly and Mental Health Units 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 36 27 March 2006 15 February 2008 Garrett Anderson Treatment Centre 
			 South London and Maudsley 25 12 September 2005 29 February 2008 Bethlem Royal Hospital Development (Forensic services) 
			 The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals 299 27 April 2005 1 March 2008 Relocation of Northern Centre for Cancer to Freeman Hospital and reconfiguration of Renal and Elderly Services Redevelopment of Royal Victoria Infirmary 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 67 21 February 2006 1 April 2008 Reconfiguration of Cancer facilities 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals 129 13 December 2005 1 April 2008 Integrated Cancer Centre 
			 Derby Hospitals 312 12 September 2003 1 June 2008 Consolidation of Acute Services on Derby City General 
			 South West Essex Teaching PCT 30 29 June 2006 1 August 2008 Reprovision of Brentwood Community Hospital 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals 51 1 August 2006 1 September 2008 Cardiac Centre 
			 St. Helens Hospitals 338 1 June 2006 1 November 2008 Acute Hospital development 
			 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's Hospitals 512 14 December 2004 1 January 2009 Major work to provide three hospitals for Women, Children, Adults and a specialist Eye hospital 
			 Taunton and Somerset 21 28 February 2007 31 January 2009 Cancer Centre 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals 29 1 May 2007 31 January 2009 Cardiac Centre 
			 University Hospital of North Staffordshire 55 1 December 2006 1 March 2009 Maternity and Oncology Unit 
			 United Bristol Healthcare/North Bristol 64 16 October 2006 1 March 2009 Cardiothoracic Centre 
			 Sherwood Forest Hospitals 326 29 October 2005 1 April 2009 Rebuild and refurbishment of the King's Mill site and Mansfield community hospital 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 29 3 May 2007 1 April 2009 Part of Midlands Mental Health batch 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals 40 14 October 2007 1 April 2009 Acute Accident Unit 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals 236 12 December 2005 1 June 2009 Relocation of Acute services currently spread across three sites onto a single site (which will include a Ministry of Defence unit) 
			 Derbyshire Mental Health Services 36 9 October 2007 10 June 2009 Part of Midlands Mental Health batch 
			 South Essex Partnership 32 5 October 2007 1 September 2009 Medium and Low security Mental Health unit on Runwell hospital site 
			 Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys 75 12 December 2007 Q1 2010 Replacement of St. Lukes hospital offering general and 
			 Walsall Hospitals 169 3 November 2007 1 March 2010 Improving Children's services and provision of primary care centres 
			 University Hospital Birmingham / Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health 627 8 June 2006 1 March 2010 Single site hospital to replace Selly Oak and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals and provide a new Mental Health Unit (Joint scheme with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health) 
			 Northamptonshire Healthcare 36 31 October 2007 1 March 2010 Reprovision of institutional Mental Health services. Includes in-patient and Adult continuing care at Pendreds hospital. 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital 144 27 July 2007 Q2 2010 Reconfiguration of Acute Hospital services 
			 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals 353 22 June 2007 1 May 2010 Rationalisation from two main sites to one at Pinderfields Hospital. Small Unit at Pontefract 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services 148 6 December 2007 Q3 2010 Relocation of Maternity Unit and modernisation of Acute Services including DTC in Chelmsford 
			 Tameside and Glossop Acute Services 109 13 September 2007 Q4 2010 Integration of services onto one site 
			 Salford Royal Hospitals 190 5 September 2007 Q1 2011 New build and refurbishment at Hope Hospital Salford 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children 75 9 October 2006 1 August 2011 Reprovision of hospital buildings 
			 Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals 336 29 June 2007 1 March 2012 Reconfiguration of Acute Hospital services 
			 University Hospital of North Staffordshire/Stoke PCT 375 13 June 2007 1 November 2012 Major new build and reconfiguration at University Hospital site 
			 Barts and the London 1,000 27 April 2006 1 November 2013 Acute site rationalisation including path lab 
			  
			  Operational  h ospital build schemes 
			 Queen Mary's Sidcup/Oxleas 21 11 December 1998 30 March 2000 Joint procurement to reprovide mental health services 
			 North Cumbria Acute Hospitals 67 3 November 1997 10 April 2000 Centralisation to new Cumberland Infirmary site in Carlisle 
			 Pennine Acute Hospitals 24 14 August 1998 1 August 2000 Redevelopment at Rochdale 
			 Dartford and Gravesham 94 30 July 1997 11 September 2000 New acute hospital on the Darenth Valley site consolidating services from three hospitals into one modern, flexible accommodation 
			 Nottingham University Hospitals 17 24 May 1999 1 October 2000 ENT/Ophthalmology at Queen's Medical Centre 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals 45 14 December 1997 17 October 2000 DGH. Rationalisation of Acute services onto two sites at Wycombe and Amersham. 
			 Sussex Partnership 22 24 June 1999 31 January 2001 Reprovision of Graylingwell Hospital 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals 24 19 September 1998 1 February 2001 Jessops Wing for women's services 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital 96 1 July 1998 28 February 2001 Part new build and part refurbishment of hospital in Greenwich 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals 61 31 March 1998 2 April 2001 New district hospital for North Durham at Dryburn 
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield 65 31 July 1998 8 April 2001 DGH. New Acute Facility (now called Calderdale Royal Hospital) on the former Halifax General Hospital site 
			 University Hospitals of South Manchester 67 8 June 1998 25 July 2001 Site rationalisation at Wythenshawe Hospital 
			 North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare 28 8 December 1999 1 September 2001 Reprovision of mental health facilities 
			 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals 158 9 January 1998 21 September 2001 New District General Hospital 
			 Hereford Hospitals 64 31 March 1999 1 March 2002 New District General Hospital 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals 54 1 February 1999 2 March 2002 Modernising Barnet General Hospital 
			 North East London Mental Health 11 4 July 2000 4 March 2002 Acute mental health services development at Goodmayes Hospital 
			 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals 87 18 March 1999 18 March 2002 New District General Hospital 
			 Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health 18 15 August 2000 18 March 2002 Reprovision of mental health facilities on Erdington and Winson Green sites 
			 Cornwall Partnership—Bodmin 10 31 October 2000 1 June 2002 Bodmin Hospital development 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals 48 28 May 1999 8 June 2002 Redevelopment of Bishop Auckland General Hospital 
			 East London 15 5 September 2000 11 June 2002 Mental Health reprovision at Newham 
			 Royal Berkshire 84 1 July 1997 27 July 2002 Service consolidation on Royal Berkshire site 
			 Luton and Dunstable 15 21 November 2000 9 September 2002 St. Marys Wing Development in Luton 
			 King's College Hospital 76 6 December 1999 7 October 2002 New block 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent Teaching PCT 14 1 December 2000 7 October 2002 Sheppey Hospital development 
			 Swindon and Marlborough 100 5 October 1999 3 December 2002 New District General Hospital 
			 Leeds Partnerships 47 1 March 2000 16 December 2002 Reprovision of mental health services throughout Leeds 
			 Northumbria Healthcare 18 16 November 2000 25 March 2003 Phase 2 development of Wansbeck General Hospital 
			 Bromley Hospitals 118 19 November 1998 29 March 2003 New Farnborough hospital 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals 22 8 December 2000 29 March 2003 Maternity and acute development—Hull Royal Infirmary 
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 15 4 May 2001 28 April 2003 Community hospital redevelopment 
			 Berkshire Healthcare 30 2 May 2001 29 April 2003 Construction of new mental health facility at Fairmile 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital 60 30 January 2001 16 May 2003 New District General Hospital 
			 The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals 13 20 March 2002 23 June 2003 Radiology unit 
			 Northumbria Healthcare 55 27 April 2001 12 July 2003 Redevelopment of Hexham General Hospital 
			 South Tees Acute Hospitals 122 16 August 1999 1 August 2003 Site redevelopment and centralisation of acute hospital services at James Cook University Hospital 
			 St. George's Healthcare 46 20 March 2000 11 September 2003 Major replacement of Neurological and cardiac units 
			 Camden and Islington 26 1 October 2001 1 October 2003 Adult Mental Health Unit. 
			 Surrey PCT 29 29 October 2001 1 November 2003 The provision of a local care centre at Farnham Hospital 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals 10 30 May 2002 18 November 2003 New community Hospital at Chester-le-Street 
			 Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals 12 1 May 2001 16 February 2004 New women's and children's unit at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital 
			 West London Mental Health 14 1 December 2000 20 February 2004 Security upgrade of Broadmoor Hospital 
			 Berkshire West PCT 19 4 July 2002 1 March 2004 New Community facilities centralised onto one site from Newbury and Sandleford Hospitals 
			 Devon PCT 10 1 July 2002 25 May 2004 New Tiverton Community Hospital 
			 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals 40 9 September 2002 1 June 2004 Maternity and gynaecology unit at Royal Preston Hospital 
			 Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh 25 1 November 2000 19 June 2004 Royal Albert Edward infirmary 
			 Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals 57 1 October 2003 1 September 2004 Heart and Lung Centre 
			 Central and North West London 35 1 September 2002 1 September 2004 Mental health facilities at Woofield Road and St. Charles. 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals—Wharfedale 14 20 September 2002 4 November 2004 Replacement of Wharfedale General Hospital 
			 Gloucestershire Hospitals 32 1 May 2002 13 November 2004 Total site redevelopment 
			 Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys 16 4 July 2003 13 December 2004 New Mental Health Unit at West Park 
			 Barnet PCT 40 1 April 2001 15 March 2005 Edgware Community hospital development. 
			 Brighton and Sussex University 12 12 December 2003 31 March 2005 New theatre and refurbishment of existing theatres 
			 Dudley Group of Hospitals 137 1 May 2001 1 April 2005 Major replacement of Russells Hall Acute Hospital 
			 Brent PCT 22 5 December 2002 21 April 2005 New build mental health facility in Willesden 
			 Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health 15 11 August 2003 6 June 2005 Elderly Mental Health Services arid Mental Health rehabilitation services 
			 University College London Hospitals 422 12 July 2000 12 June 2005 Major rationalisation of sites and wholescale replacement of University College Hospital 
			 West London Mental Health 36 1 October 2002 11 October 2005 Dangerous and severe personalities Unit at Broadmoor 
			 Guys and St. Thomas 50 19 September 1998 31 October 2005 New Evelina Children's Hospital 
			 Imperial College Healthcare 25 1 October 2003 7 November 2005 Renal Centre 
			 Kirklees PCT 27 21 April 2004 14 November 2005 Provision of 6 new Primary Care Centres 
			 Sandwell and W Birmingham Hospitals 26 9 December 2002 28 November 2005 Ambulatory Care Centre at City Hospital 
			 East London 34 10 October 2002 1 December 2005 Mental Health unit in Tower Hamlets 
			 Plymouth Hospitals 31 1 April 2004 1 February 2006 South West Cardiothoracic Centre 
			 The Cardiothoracic Centre 49 1 November 2004 1 March 2006 New cardiac Centre in Liverpool 
			 Wandsworth PCT 75 6 May 2004 10 March 2006 Redevelopment of Queen Mary's Roehampton. Including specialist rehabilitation and amputee services 
			 North West London Hospitals 69 6 November 2003 19 March 2006 Modernisation of Central Middlesex Hospital 
			 Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre 45 1 October 2003 1 April 2006 Cardiac Centre 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals 47 21 May 2004 15 April 2006 Partial redevelopment of Stoke Mandeville Hospital 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 32 10 May 2004 15 May 2006 Reprovision of Mental Health services at St. George's Hospital Morpeth 
			 Salisbury Health Care 24 4 March 2004 19 May 2006 DGH Redevelopment 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals 30 13 October 2003 23 May 2006 Burnley Phase V Hospital development 
			 Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership 83 1 March 2004 13 June 2006 Redevelopment of Mental Health facilities, community care services and crisis homes 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals 110 9 July 2003 8 July 2006 Closure of Blackburn Royal Infirmary and expansion of Queens Park hospital 
			 Newham University Hospital 55 27 January 2004 8 July 2006 Reprovision of Acute Services from St. Andrews to Newham General Hospital 
			 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire 379 27 November 2002 10 July 2006 New District General Hospital at Walsgrave 
			 Southampton University Hospitals 53 1 February 2004 31 July 2006 Cardiac Centre 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 28 3 March 2005 19 September 2006 New Danetre Community Hospital in Daventry 
			 The Whittington Hospital 32 9 October 2002 20 November 2006 Redevelopment of Acute Hospital services 
			 The Lewisham Hospital 72 8 July 2004 27 November 2006 Redevelopment of University Hospital including the separation of elective and emergency procedures 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals 238 15 January 2004 6 December 2006 Rationalisation of 2 sites onto 1 adjacent to the existing Oldchurch hospital in Romford 
			 Hampshire PCT 36 18 November 2004 2 January 2007 Redevelopment of Lymington Hospital 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals 134 19 December 2003 13 January 2007 Reprovision of specialist services from the Radcliffe Infirmary to a new build on the John Radcliffe Hospital site 
			 Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre 37 20 April 2002 2 March 2007 Orthopaedics/medicine redevelopment 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals 35 19 December 2004 21 April 2007 New Hadfield Wing to replace Victorian Vickers wards 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 24 21 July 2005 23 April 2007 Neuro Disability Centre 
			 Cambridge University Hospital 76 27 October 2004 18 May 2007 Elective Care Centre, Genetics and Diabetes at Addenbrookes 
			 Brighton and Sussex University 36 10 June 2004 25 June 2007 Relocation of Royal Alexandra Hospital for sick Children 
			 West London Mental Health 27 1 June 2005 30 June 2007 Women's enhanced medium secure services 
			 Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals 59 1 November 2003 1 July 2007 Essex Heart and Lung Centre 
			 Kingston Hospital 33 23 November 2004 3 July 2007 Redevelopment of Kingston Hospital 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals 265 15 October 2004 15 December 2007 Regional Oncology and Cancer centre at St. James University Hospital

Arts

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people aged 16 years and over  (a) from black and ethnic minority groups,  (b) with a limiting disability,  (c) from lower socio-economic groups and  (d) from the total population did not (i) participate in arts activity and (ii) attend an arts event in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what estimate his Department has made of the most recent level of arts participation in each such group.

Margaret Hodge: The DCMS 'Taking Part' survey provides national data on participation in arts activities and attendance at arts events by adults aged 16 and over. The survey has been running since 2005-06 and the latest available data is from 2006-07. Robust and consistent data relating to the priority groups is not available for years prior to the start of Taking Part.
	The following tables show the percentage of people from our priority groups and the population as a whole who did not attend or participate in the arts during the 12 months prior to interview.
	
		
			  Arts non-participation 
			  Priority group  2005-06 (Percentage)  2006-07 (Percentage) 
			 Black and minority ethnic 54 54 
			 Limiting disability 53 53 
			 Lower socio-economic 58 59 
			 All adults 47 48 
		
	
	
		
			  Arts non-attendance 
			  Priority group  2005-06 (Percentage)  2006-07 (Percentage) 
			 Black and minority ethnic 41 43 
			 Limiting disability 46 46 
			 Lower socio-economic 48 48 
			 All adults 34 34 
		
	
	Using the latest data available, the following tables show the percentage of people from our priority groups and the population as a whole who currently did attend and participate in the arts in the 12 months prior to interview.
	
		
			  Arts participation 
			  Priority group  2006-07 (Percentage) 
			 Black and minority ethnic 46 
			 Limiting disability 47 
			 Lower socio-economic 41 
			 All adults 52 
		
	
	
		
			  Arts attendance 
			  Priority group  2006-07 (Percentage) 
			 Black and minority ethnic 57 
			 Limiting disability 54 
			 Lower socio-economic 52 
			 All adults 66 
		
	
	Note that these figures are survey estimates. For further information about the methodology and full definitions of attendance and participation, see the Taking Part annual report at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference.library/rands/taking_part_survey/

Arts

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people aged 16 and over  (a) from black and ethnic minority groups,  (b) with a limiting disability,  (c) from lower socio-economic groups and  (d) from the total population (i) participated in arts activity and (ii) attended arts events at least twice a year in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Margaret Hodge: The DCMS 'Taking Part' survey provides national data on participation in arts activities and attendance at arts events by adults aged 16 and over. The survey has been running since 2005-06 and the latest available data is from 2006-07. Robust and consistent data relating to the priority groups is not available for years prior to the start of Taking Part.
	The following tables show the percentage of people from our priority groups and the population as a whole who attended and participated in the arts at least twice during the 12 months prior to interview. This relates to the frequency of engagement rather than the number of activities attended/participated in.
	
		
			  Arts  participation 
			  Priority group  2005-06 (Percentage)  2006-07 (Percentage) 
			 Black and minority ethnic 42 39 
			 Limiting disability 40 40 
			 Lower socio-economic 36 35 
			 All adults 46 45 
		
	
	
		
			  Arts attendance 
			  Priority group  2005-06 (Percentage)  2006-07 (Percentage) 
			 Black and minority ethnic 41 39 
			 Limiting disability 39 38 
			 Lower socio-economic 34 33 
			 All adults 50 49 
		
	
	Note that these figures are survey estimates. For further information about the methodology and full definitions of attendance and participation, see the Taking Part annual report at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference.library/rands/taking_part_survey/

Fair Trade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his Department's policy is on the use of fair trade goods  (a) in staff catering facilities and  (b) at official departmental functions and meetings; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Staff have the opportunity to purchase fair trade tea, coffee and confectionary in the Department's staff restaurant.
	Fair Trade tea and coffee is supplied at official functions and meetings.

Regional Arts Councils: Public Participation

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what requirement there is for Arts Council regional meetings to be held in public; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Currently there is no requirement for Arts Council regional meetings to be held in public and meetings of both the national and the regional arts councils are not open to members of the public. However, the Arts Council publication scheme sets out the information it is committed to make publicly available, which includes the minutes of national council and regional council meetings. The Arts Council's publication scheme is available on the website:
	www.artscouncil.org.uk/publications/publication_detail.php?sid=1&id=413
	Copies of this document have been places in the Libraries of both Houses.

Sports

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of progress towards his Department's public service agreement target to increase significantly the take-up of sports opportunities by users from priority groups; and if he will make a statement.  [Official Report, 7 March 2008, Vol. 472, c. 27MC.]

Gerry Sutcliffe: The DCMS 'Taking Part' survey is being used to measure progress against this public service agreement.
	The most recent results were published in December 2007 and are in the tables. They provide a comparison between the baseline figures and the second year results of the survey.
	The moderate level intensity sport indicator is defined as participation in moderate intensity level sport for at least 30 minutes on three separate days during the past week.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Priority group  Year 1  Year 2 
			 Black and minority ethnic 19.2 19.6 
			 Limiting disability 9.5 9.4 
			 Lower socio-economic 15.2 15.3 
			 Women 18.5 18.3 
			 All adults 20.9 21.5 
		
	
	The active sport indicator is defined as at least one occasion of participation in an active sport during the past four weeks.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Priority group  Year 1  Year 2 
			 Black and minority ethnic 53.3 51.9 
			 Limiting disability 32.3 31.7 
			 Lower socio-economic 43.4 42.2 
			 Women 47.7 46.2 
			 All adults 53.7 53.4 
		
	
	Sport England have been working to increase the number of participants in sport through a range of interventions across sports organisations at a regional and local level; including national governing bodies, county sports partnerships, community sports networks, sports clubs and others. Since 1997-98, over £4 billion has been invested through Government and the lottery on sport in England.
	Participation will be an integral part of Sport England's new strategy to build a world-class community sport infrastructure.

Frontiers: Security

Damian Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Her Majesty's Customs and Revenue and its predecessors spent on border security and enforcement in each of the last three financial years.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs undertakes a range of activities at the border, including security and enforcement, regulatory, fiscal and trade facilitation. Resources are deployed according to risk and officers are trained to, and may discharge, any or all of these functions. Security and enforcement is an intrinsic part of HMRC's frontier work. No assessment has been made of the spend on purely security activity and it is not possible, or sensible in terms of proving meaningful information, to extract these costs.

Welfare Tax Credits: Telephone Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff at each grade were employed on the Tax Credits Helpline in each year since it was established.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the former Paymaster General on 25 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1392W. The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed on the Tax Credit Helpline for the year ended 31 March 2007 is estimated to be around 4,000, and for the year ended 31 March 2008 the figures are not yet available.
	The analysis of these figures "by grade" is not available. At any given time, the numbers of staff working on the Tax Credits Helpline can vary considerably from the figures given as staff are increasingly deployed flexibly across HMRCs' Helplines to respond to changing customer demand.

Arms Trade: Export Controls

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what applications have been received for export licences for the sale of arms to Sri Lanka since 1 January 2007; what type of arms were included in each application; whether each application was approved; and what the grounds for refusal were for each application which was refused.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government publish detailed information on export licences issued and refused, including the overall value and number of export licences approved for Sri Lanka and a summary of the items covered by these licences, in its annual and quarterly reports on strategic export controls. For licences refused, the reports provide, by destination information on the number of licences refused, and a description of the nature of those goods (by reference to the relevant entry in export control legislation), and indicate which of the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria applied.
	The Government's annual reports, published since 1997, are available from the Libraries of the House and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029395474
	The Government have published quarterly reports on strategic export controls since January 2004 and these are also available from this website.

Fuel Poverty

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps have been taken to assist the fuel poor in meeting any increases in electricity prices resulting from the renewables obligation.

Malcolm Wicks: Government measures outlined in the UK Fuel Poverty 5(th) Annual Strategy Progress Report, are aimed at ensuring the fuel poor are able to meet their fuel bills. Since 2000, the Government have spent £20 billion on benefits and programmes, including the winter fuel payment which helped keep 11.7 million people warm in the winter of 2006-07.
	In addition, the combination of Warm Front funding of just over £800 million for the 2008-11 period and the focus on low income and elderly consumers through the priority group obligation in the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) mean that spending on energy efficiency and other measures in low income, elderly and disabled households is expected to rise by £680 million to around £2.3 billion compared to the previous spending period.

Minimum Wage: Publicity

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the Government has taken to promote awareness of the national minimum wage since its introduction.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 7 February 2008
	 There were high profile publicity campaigns to raise awareness of the national minimum wage in the early years following its introduction. Since then the Government have run a campaign to inform workers and employers about the rates.
	This year we are running a more sustained national and regional campaign including radio and poster advertising, an online campaign targeting young workers, an outreach campaign involving a national minimum wage bus visiting more than 30 towns and cities across Great Britain, a campaign targeting migrant workers bringing in elements of these campaigns. These campaigns seek to promote awareness of the minimum wage, the rates and where workers and employers can get advice or make a complaint.
	We are also working with business to identify what support they need to ahead of new penalties for underpayment of NMW which are being introduced through the Employment Bill.

Olympic Games 2012: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the Government has taken to encourage West Midlands businesses to examine the opportunities arising from the hosting of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 7 February 2008
	London 2012 has recently launched the "London 2012 Business Network", which is aimed at helping businesses, particularly SMEs, to access Contracts and sub-Contracts from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
	The West Midlands launch of the Network took place on 23 January 2008, at Villa Park. The keynote speaker was Mr. Paul Deighton, the chief executive of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG). The launch was attended by 260 delegates, around 75 per cent. of whom were from private sector businesses. The regional development agency for the West Midlands, Advantage West Midlands (AWM), is committed to promoting the London 2012 Business Network in the region.
	As part of that process, the West Midlands Business Council, which is funded by AWM, has organised a series of 17 "Olympic Opportunities" seminars across the region. The first seminar took place on 1 February in Ross-on-Wye and the Coventry seminar will take place on 14 March. A full list of the seminars can be accessed at www.wmbusinesscouncil.org.uk under "Events".
	In addition, the agency is working closely with Business Link to support businesses in the region to maximise the number of 2012 Tenders won in the West Midlands. This includes a series often, detailed, half-day "Tender Training" Workshops, themed around London 2012. The Coventry workshop is on 20 February.
	The regional development agencies, including AWM are joint funders of one of the main components of the 2012 Business Network, the "CompeteFor" system.
	"CompeteFor" gives unprecedented access to top-tier and lower-level sub-contracts from Olympic Delivery Authority and LOCOG Tenders.

Political Levy

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what funding his Department has provided to trades unions through the Union Modernisation Fund and Union Learning Fund to promote awareness of trades union members' right to opt out of political funds since 1997.

Patrick McFadden: Neither the Union Modernisation Fund nor the Union Learning Fund provides funding to trade unions to promote awareness of trade union member's right to opt out of political funds.
	The Union Learning Fund is administered by the Department for Innovation, University and Skills.

Postwatch

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of Postwatch's ability to carry out its statutory duties.

Patrick McFadden: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, has made no such assessment.
	As an executive non-departmental public body the performance of Postwatch is a matter for its board and the chief executive officer, which is monitored via regular meetings with BERR, the sponsor Department.

Public Telephones

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of public telephone boxes which  (a) display advertising on their exterior and  (b) displayed advertising on 24 January (i) 2007 and (ii) 2003;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of red public telephone boxes that have been replaced.

Malcolm Wicks: Under the terms of the Universal Service Obligation imposed on BT and Kingston Communications by the regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), the companies are required to maintain public call boxes to meet reasonable demand across the UK. Ofcom enforce this requirement but I understand that Ofcom do not collect information on the design of public call boxes or the extent to which the exterior is used for advertising. My hon. Friend will need to contact the two companies to obtain this information.
	I understand from Ofcom, that on UK streets there are currently 61,796 public telephone boxes.

Tribunals: Employment

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of employment tribunals with  (a) three members,  (b) two members and  (c) one member adjudicating which will sit each year should the provisions of the Employment (Simplification) Bill be enacted.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 5 February 2008
	The Government acknowledge the valuable and important contribution which lay members make to the tribunal system. This was reaffirmed through responses to the Government consultation "Resolving disputes in the workplace" which issued in March 2007 and closed on 20 June 2007. Most respondents commented that the tripartite structure of the tribunal was a real strength which aided decision-making in cases where considerations of context and reasonableness were important.
	There was also support in the consultation for chairs to sit alone in determining cases involving issues of a purely legal nature and in straightforward monetary cases, where the practical experience of the workplace that lay members bring to the tribunal's deliberations is of less relevance. Additionally over 70 per cent. of respondents to the consultation supported the introduction of a new, swift approach to dealing with straightforward claims, where cases could be determined by an employment tribunal chair, with the consent of the parties, on the basis of the papers. Responding to these findings in the consultation process, the Government propose to develop further good practice which already exists within the tribunals by establishing a fast-track system for dealing with simple monetary claims. The fast-track system will involve five jurisdictions where claims potentially raise straightforward issues and therefore potentially could be determined without the need for tribunal hearing. The jurisdictions considered suitable for the fast-track are:
	unlawful deductions from wages;
	breach o f contract;
	redundancy pay;
	holiday pay; and
	the national minimum wage.
	Claims falling within this narrow band that are combined with other jurisdictions outside the list, will not be eligible for a fast-track determination.
	The Government envisages that employment judges will make an early analysis of claims falling within these jurisdictions and form a view as to whether the case would be suitable for (a) determination based on the documents or (b) whether the issues raised are more suitable for a hearing, and if the latter, whether lay members need to be present. Where a case falls into category (a), the employment judge will write to the parties informing them that in his or her opinion the case could be determined on the basis of documents, but advising the parties that they have a right to a hearing. If the parties are content for the case to be determined without hearing, a written determination will be made. If one of the parties requests a hearing, the case will be heard either by an employment judge sitting alone or before a full tribunal. Where complex issues are raised, the case would be heard by a three-member tribunal.
	The fast-track potentially benefits both parties by enabling them to resolve straightforward issues quickly and efficiently reducing unnecessary burdens on the parties' time and, where they agree to a determination without hearing, saving them from costs associated with attendance or representation at tribunal hearings. We have estimated some 10 per cent. of tribunal claims will be potentially eligible for a fast-track determination.
	The Government remain committed to the tripartite nature of tribunals and recognise the important role which lay members play. Provisions in the Employment Bill will not impact on these valuable and trusted arrangements other than as outlined above.

Tribunals: Employment

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of the role of lay members on employment tribunals; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 7 February 2008
	 The Government acknowledge the valuable and important contribution which lay members make to the tribunal system. This was reaffirmed through responses to the Government consultation 'Resolving disputes in the workplace' which issued in March 2007 and closed on 20 June 2007. Most respondents commented that the tripartite structure of the tribunal was a real strength which aided decision-making in cases where considerations of context and reasonableness were important.
	There was also support in the consultation for employment judges to sit alone in determining cases involving issues of a purely legal nature and in straightforward monetary cases, where the practical experience of the workplace that lay members bring to the tribunal's deliberations is of less relevance. Additionally, over 70 per cent. of respondents to the consultation supported the introduction of a new, swift approach to dealing with straightforward claims, where cases could be determined by an employment judge, with the consent of the parties, on the basis of the papers.
	Responding to these findings in the consultation process, the Government proposes to develop further the good practice which already exists within the tribunals by establishing a fast-track system for dealing with simple monetary claims. The fast-track system will involve five jurisdictions where claims potentially raise straightforward issues and therefore potentially could be determined without the need for a tribunal hearing. The jurisdictions considered suitable for the fast track are:
	unlawful deductions from wages
	breach of contract
	redundancy pay
	holiday pay
	the national minimum wage
	Claims falling within these jurisdictions that are combined with other jurisdictions outside the list, will not be eligible for a fast-track determination.
	The Government envisage that employment judges will make an early analysis of claims falling within these jurisdictions and form a view as to whether the case is suitable for (a) determination based on the documents, or (b) whether the issues raised are more suitable for a hearing, and if the latter, whether lay members need to be present. Where a case falls into category (a) the employment judge will write to the parties informing them that in his or her opinion the case could be determined on the basis of documents, but advising the parties that they have a right to a hearing. If the parties are content for the case to be determined without a hearing, a written determination will be made. If one of the parties requests a hearing, the case will be heard either by an employment judge sitting alone or before a full tribunal. Where complex issues are raised, the case would be heard by a three-member tribunal.
	The fast-track potentially benefits both parties by enabling them to resolve straightforward issues quickly and efficiently, reducing unnecessary burdens on the parties' time and, where they agree to a determination without a hearing, saving them from costs associated with attendance at or representation at tribunal hearings.
	The Government remain committed to the tripartite nature of tribunals and recognise the important role which lay members play. Provisions in the Employment Bill will not impact on these valuable and trusted arrangements other than as outlined above.

Ambient Assisted Living

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his policy is on participating in ambient assisted living projects at EU level; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The UK supports the objectives of the European Commission proposal under Article169 of the EC treaty for the Joint Programme for Ambient Assisted Living (AAL), which are to support applied research and the demonstration of potential AAL solutions for the elderly in their home/ambient environment through effective co-ordination between national support schemes.
	Negotiations are currently progressing under the co-decision procedure in the council and the European Parliament. The UK has indicated it will participate. UK enterprises participating in successful projects will be funded via the Assisted Living Innovation Platform recently established by the Technology Strategy Board.

Departmental Data Protection

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether personal data for which his Department is responsible is  (a) stored and  (b) processed overseas; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The information is as follows:
	 (a) As far as we are aware, none.
	 (b) As far as we are aware, none.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what the name is of each special adviser in his Department;
	(2)  what the estimated cost is of  (a) expenses,  (b) salary,  (c) office space,  (d) administrative support and  (e) special advisers for the two new Ministers of State in his Department in 2007-08.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement from my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, column 148WS.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will list the special advisers employed in his Department and its predecessor since 6 May 1997; and what the  (a) start and  (b) end date of employment was in each case.

David Lammy: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and numbers of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns147-50WS.

Education

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of non-accredited learning on  (a) health,  (b) educational aspirations within families and  (c) social inclusion.

Bill Rammell: We recognise the many wider benefits of participation in non-accredited learning and its vital contribution to improving personal health and wellbeing, raising confidence and self-esteem, engaging families in learning, and developing stronger communities.
	These courses offer social and economic benefits for people of all ages and backgrounds, including the most vulnerable families, marginalised groups and those at risk from offending behaviour. They help adults and children to learn together, helping to change attitudes to learning and widening participation across the community by promoting a positive learning culture, where learning is seen as attractive and relevant. They also have well-documented spin-off benefits in terms of reduced calls on health and social services budgets. People who keep mentally and physically active not only live longer but live happier and more fulfilled lives, and pursuing learning can play a real part in this.
	We want to continue to raise people's aspirations and significantly broaden participation, progression and achievement in learning by creating the best learning offer possible and enabling individuals and communities to improve and prosper. Our Skills and Skills for Life Strategies, the Employability Skills Programme and projects like Skilled for Health, together with our decision to extend the Personal and Community Development Learning budget safeguard at £210 million per annum through to 2010/11, will ensure the continuing availability of a wide range of suitable learning opportunities in every area.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, launched a consultation on Informal Adult Learning on 15 January 2008. Through this consultation we will work with other Government Departments, with partners and stakeholders, and with learners themselves, to look at how this learning is funded and delivered to improve social cohesion and progression, focus on disadvantage and engage new learners.

Higher Education: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what funding he has allocated in cash terms to  (a) higher education and further and continuing education funding for teaching costs only,  (b) fee grants for full-time students and fee grants for part-time students,  (c) fee loans for full-time students,  (d) maintenance loans for full-time students,  (e) maintenance grants for full-time and part-time students and  (f) access funds in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

Bill Rammell: The following table sets out the funding allocated over the 2007 comprehensive spending review period for higher education (HE) and further education (FE) in the areas you request in cash terms (£ millions).
	The funding systems for FE and HE operate differently. For example in HE, support for fees is provided mainly through fee loans. In FE, fee remission is provided in full for all learners undertaking priority qualifications as well as those on limited incomes. This is reflected in the total amount of participation funding for adult FE and skills in the following table.
	
		
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			  Higher education
			 HEFCE recurrent grant for teaching(1) 4,920 5,095 5,325 
			 
			 Fee grants for
			 Full-time students 51 3 0 
			 Part-time students 31 32 33 
			 
			 Fee loans for full-time students 1,927 2,389 2,605 
			 Maintenance loans for full-time students 2,890 3,041 3,184 
			 
			 Maintenance grants for
			 Full-time students 804 979 1,110 
			 Part-time students 15 14 15 
			 
			 HE Access to Learning Fund(2) 50   
			 
			  Further Education
			 Adult (19+) FE and Skills Participation(3) 3,215 3,306 3,599 
			 FE Learner Support Funds(4) 139 139 139 
			 (1 )As published in the HEFCE 2007 Grant Letter. (2 )The figures for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 Access to Learning Fund have not been announced yet. (3 )As published in the LSC 2007 Grant Letter. This includes teaching costs but also other costs borne by colleges in the delivery of teaching. (4 )These figures include a range of funding designed to encourage access to further education for adults, including hardship funding, child care support, and grants to adult learners.  Note:  Student support figures are for English domicile HE students.

Teachers: Training

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of participants dropped out of teacher training courses in each of the last three years, broken down by age.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	The proportion of participants who dropped out of teacher training course is not collected centrally.
	Complete data are collected for final year trainees and the number of trainees who leave their course during this final year are recorded. The following table shows the proportion of trainees in their final year for both mainstream and Employment Based Initial Teacher Training (EBITT) courses who have left before the end of their Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course for the past three years which data are available, broken down by age.
	
		
			  Final year drop out 
			2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			  Age   Mainstream  EBITT  Mainstream  EBITT  Mainstream  EBITT 
			 Under 25 Number of trainees leaving course in final year 440 10 420 20 420 40 
			  Percentage of all final year trainees for this age breakdown leaving course 3 4 3 2 3 4 
			 
			 25-29 Number of trainees leaving course in final year 360 110 380 70 280 100 
			  Percentage of all final year trainees for this age breakdown leaving course 5 7 5 3 3 5 
			 
			 30-34 Number of trainees leaving course in final year 200 90 160 40 170 70 
			  Percentage of all final year trainees for this age breakdown leaving course 6 10 5 3 6 5 
			 
			 35-39 Number of trainees leaving course in final year 170 70 160 40 130 50 
			  Percentage of all final year trainees for this age breakdown leaving course 7 10 7 4 6 6 
			 
			 40-44 Number of trainees leaving course in final year 150 70 140 50 130 60 
			  Percentage of all final year trainees for this age breakdown leaving course 8 9 7 5 7 8 
			 
			 45-49 Number of trainees leaving course in final year 90 50 100 30 100 50 
			  Percentage of all final year trainees for this age breakdown leaving course 10 11 11 5 10 9 
			 
			 50-54 Number of trainees leaving course in final year 50 30 40 20 70 40 
			  Percentage of all final year trainees for this age breakdown leaving course 17 14 13 7 22 16 
			 
			 Over 55 Number of trainees leaving course in final year 20 20 10 10 20 20 
			  Percentage of all final year trainees for this age breakdown leaving course 20 26 18 9 17 26 
			 
			 Total Number of trainees leaving course in final year 1,470 440 1,410 260 1,310 420 
			  Percentage of all final year trainees leaving course 5 9 5 4 4 6 
			  Notes: 1. Mainstream includes universities and other higher education institutions, SCITT and OU, but excludes employment based routes. 2. Performance profiles data are collected at the end of a trainees' first year, therefore 2006-07 data are collected in autumn 2007 and will be published in July 2008. 3. Trainees taking the assessment only are not included in the table. 4. Teach First trainees are included in EBITT in the table, however the age of final year Teach First trainees was not collected prior to 2005-06, therefore only 2005-06 data include the age break down of Teach First trainees. 5. Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (OTTP) trainees are included in EBITT in the table, however the age of final year OTTP trainees was not collected prior to 2004-05, therefore only 2004-05 and 2005-06 data include the age break down of OTTP trainees.  Source: TDA's Performance Profiles

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been placed on individuals living in Wirral, West constituency in the last two years; on what grounds each was imposed; and how many such orders were breached.

Vernon Coaker: Antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) data for 2004 and 2005 (latest available) for the Merseyside CJS area in which the Wirral, West constituency lies, can be found in the following table. Information on the grounds on which ASBOs are imposed is not collated centrally. ASBO data does not identify the constituency in which an ASBO is issued or breached.
	
		
			  N umber of ASBOs issued and breached in the Merseyside CJS area, 2004 and 2005 
			  Merseyside CJS area  2004  2005 
			 ASBOs issued 96 128 
			 ASBOs breached(1, 2) 43 70 
			 (1) ASBOs may be issued in one area and breached in another. Breaches are counted in this table on area of issue. (2 )ASBOs may be breached more than once and in more than one year. In this table ASBOs are counted once only within the period when they were first breached. Hence the ASBOs listed as breached in 2004 and 2005 may have been issued in earlier years.  Note:  Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Ref: ASBO 08-08  Source:  OCJR Court Proceedings Database

Asylum

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made by her Department in responding to the key findings of the National Audit Office report Asylum and migration: a review of Home Office statistics (HC (2003-04) 625) of 25 May 2004.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 17 January 2008
	 The asylum and immigration statistics are
	"produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political influence".
	The National Audit Office (NAO) report concluded that "asylum data and statistics are in most respects reliable". Home Office statisticians continue to quality assure the asylum statistics and to expand their range to provide a broader picture of the asylum process, as can be seen from the published statistics .
	A National Statistics Quality Review was conducted in 2006 on the "Control of Immigration: United Kingdom" publications (as is required by the National Statistics code of practice). This review and the Home Office's implementation plan are available from the Library of the House and from the National Statistics website:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/data/methodology/quality/reviews/population.asp.
	The Border and Immigration Agency is currently reviewing what asylum and migration statistics are produced and published, and the frequency of the publications. This review was signalled by the Home Secretary in the House of Commons on 9 July 2007.
	Copies of these publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Beatrice Guessie

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the investigation into the treatment of Beatrice Guessie to be completed.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 February 2008
	 I have been informed that the investigation into the treatment of Beatrice Guessie have now been completed, I am unable to comment until the findings have been published.

Biometrics

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statutory authority the Government have to hold the biometric details and other information relating to foreign nationals who have been issued with biometric information documents and identity cards in the United Kingdom when such nationals are no longer resident in the UK.

Liam Byrne: The Secretary of State has the power, by regulations made under section 8 of the UK Borders Act 2007, to retain biometric information about foreign nationals who have applied for a biometric immigration document—an identity card for foreign nationals—even if they leave the UK. The Secretary of State may also retain biographical information about foreign nationals who are subject to immigration control after they have left the UK, under her Common Law powers, provided this is done compatibly with the safeguards of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998. It is essential to retain this information, for example, to identify those who may seek to abuse immigration control by seeking to return to the UK in a false identity.

Border and Immigration Agency: Databases

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the error rate in each of the databases operated by the Border and Immigration Agency.

Liam Byrne: Within the context of this question, 'error rate' is considered to relate to data accuracy within each database.
	This information is not held centrally and cannot be provided from current information available.
	However, there are controls in place to safeguard against certain errors and to help prevent them occurring. Where errors are identified, prompt and robust remedial action is implemented.
	In order to prevent data being captured which is inaccurate or incomplete (often keystroke errors), it is conventional to provide data capture forms that have as few 'free text' fields as possible to limit the possible occasions of input data error.
	All core systems within BIA are subject to quarterly data audits by our data bureau, a third party supplier, overseen by Home Office IT officials where appropriate corrective actions are implemented as needed. Using root cause analysis, such errors are identified, analysed and remedied.
	Following advice from the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), this statement is included as supporting information:
	written ministerial statement of 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179 notes that the review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published by the Cabinet Office through a written ministerial statement on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS. This included a recommendation regarding enhanced transparency with Parliament, and the public about action to safeguard information and the results of that action, through publication of results departmental annual reports and an annual report to Parliament.

Border and Immigration Agency

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the reasons are for the time taken by the Borders and Immigration Agency to reply to the request made by the appellant in case number 15A/1510/2007, despatched by special delivery on 26 September 2007 (ZU 5490 3847 8GB) and delivered on 29 September 2007 (DL 8504 23545GB); and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  will make available a copy of the letter dated 27 August 1998 which was despatched from Beckett House to the appellant in case number ISA/15110/2007 to  (a) the appellant and  (b) the hon. Member for Thurrock before the hearing on 31st January; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 24 January 2008
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 4 February 2008.

Crime: Darlington

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what trends there have been in crime detection rates in Darlington over  (a) the last 12 months and  (b) the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not available centrally for Darlington. While detections data is available for basic command units, there are currently only two in the Durham police force area, north and south Durham.

Entry Clearances: Students

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many student visas were revoked in each of the last five years as a consequence of  (a) failure to register with the relevant institution at the beginning of the academic year and  (b) failure to attend classes.

Liam Byrne: To obtain the information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.

Human Trafficking

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers  (a) border and  (b) other officials have to stop people on the grounds that they suspect them to be victims or perpetrators of human trafficking.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 February 2008
	All people seeking entry to the United Kingdom are subject to examination by an Immigration Officer under Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971. This provides that the officer may examine any person to ensure that they qualify for entry in accordance with the published Immigration Rules.
	BIA has provided staff with guidance and training to identify victims both on entry to the United Kingdom and after.
	Any passenger suspected of trafficking is referred to a Border and Immigration Agency prosecution unit, or the police, for the offence to be fully investigated. The present offences on statute to deal with traffickers include
	Section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 which provides it is an offence to assist in the unlawful immigration of a non EU citizen.
	Section 57 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which provides an offence of trafficking for sexual exploitation.
	Section 4 (1) of the Asylum and Immigration Act 2004, which provides an offence of trafficking for non sexual exploitation.
	Immigration Officers have power under the Immigration Act to detain, for further examination; any person they believe is involved in the commission of any of the above offences. Furthermore, trained immigration officers also have the power to arrest any individual they have reasonable grounds to believe have committed such an offence.
	Police officers and officials from the Her Majesty's Customs and Revenue also have powers to deal with perpetrators of trafficking.

Official Residences

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many years remain on the lease for South Eaton Place, the Government House in Pimlico.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 31 January 2008
	The property is held on a number of co-terminus leases which expire in 45 years.

Police: Greater London

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in Enfield North in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2007, how many community safety officers there were in Enfield North in 2007; and how many incidents of recorded crime there were in Enfield North in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2007.

Tony McNulty: Police strength data are not collected by parliamentary constituencies; data are available at the basic command unit level from 2002-03 onwards.
	Recorded crime data are not collected by parliamentary constituencies; data are available at the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership level from 1999-2000 onwards.
	The available data are given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1. Police officer strength (FTE)( 1)  in Enfield basic command unit as at 31 March( 2) 
			   Number 
			 1996-97 — 
			 2002-03 487 
			 2006-07 582 
			 (1) These figures are based on full-time equivalents that have been rounded to the nearest whole number, due to rounding there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of constituent items. Figures include those officers on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (2) Data were collected centrally from 2002-03 onwards, the data for 2002-03 have been provided for reference. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 . Police community support officer strength (FTE)1 in Enfield basic command unit as at 31 March 
			   Number 
			 2006-07 119 
			 (1) These figures are based on full-time equivalents that have been rounded to the nearest whole number, due to rounding there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of constituent items. Figures include those officers on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3. Number of recorded crimes( 1)  in Enfield CDRP as at 31 March( 2) 
			   Number 
			 1996-97 — 
			 2006-07 27,058 
			 (1) The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years. (2) Data were collected centrally from 1999-2000 onwards.

Stop and Search

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 16 October 2007,  Official Report, column 983W, on stop and search, for what reasons data on individuals stopped and searched under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 is not collected by  (a) gender and  (b) age.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 29 November 2007
	The recording requirements for stop and search data under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 are set out in PACE Code A issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Code A does not require that gender details should be recorded although the officer exercising a stop and search can request a person's date of birth. Police forces nevertheless do collect data on individuals' gender and age when exercising stop and search powers under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000. However, this data is not held centrally and the information could not be provided except at disproportionate cost.

Work Permits

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many professional footballers offered employment by UK football clubs were refused a work permit in each year since January 1998, broken down by nationality.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is as follows:
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
	
		
			  Number of professional footballers who were refused a work permit for each year broken down by nationality for the period from 1 January 2000 to 1 February 2008 
			  Nationality  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  Total 
			 Albania 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Algeria 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Australia 5 (1)— 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 5 
			 Barbados 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 (1)— 
			 Belarus (1)— (1)— 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 0 5 
			 Bermuda (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Bosnia-Herzogovina (1)— (1)— 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 5 
			 Brazil 0 (1)— 5 5 (1)— (1)— 0 0 0 10 
			 Bulgaria 0 0 (1)— 0 0 (1)— 0 (1)— 0 5 
			 Cameroon 0 0 (1)— 5 (1)— 0 (1)— 0 0 5 
			 Canada (1)— (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
			 Chile (1)— 0 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 China, Peoples Republic of 0 (1)— (1)— 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 5 
			 Colombia 0 (1)— (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Congo 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 (1)— 
			 Costa Rica 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 (1)— 
			 Croatia (1)— (1)— 0 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 5 
			 Czech Republic 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Ecuador 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Egypt 0 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Estonia 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
			 Georgia 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— (1)— 5 
			 Ghana 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 (1)— 0 5 
			 Honduras 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
			 Iraq 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— (1)— 
			 Israel (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Jamaica 0 (1)— (1)— 0 (1)— (1)— 0 (1)— 0 5 
			 Japan 0 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Latvia 5 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
			 Liberia 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Lithuania 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Macedonia 0 (1)— 0 (1)— 0 (1)— 0 0 0 5 
			 Morocco 0 (1)— 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 New Zealand 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 0 (1)— 
			 Nigeria 0 (1)— 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
			 Oman 0 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Poland (1)— 0 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Russia 0 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Serbia(2) 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Sierra Leone 0 0 (1)— 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 (1)— 
			 Slovakia 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 South Africa 0 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 0 0 0 5 
			 St. Kitts (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 St. Vincent (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Togo 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 10 5 (1)— 5 0 (1)— 0 (1)— 0 25 
			 Tunisia 0 0 0 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Turkey 0 (1)— (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 United States of America 5 (1)— (1)— 5 0 0 (1)— 0 0 10 
			 Yugoslavia(3) 0 (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Zimbabwe (1)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1)— 
			 Total 40 35 25 30 10 10 10 10 (1)— 165 
			 (1) Indicates 1 or 2. (2) Until 2005 Serbia was referred to as Serbia and Montenegro. (3 )Yugoslavia ceased to be a nation in 2000.   Notes: 1. In November 1999 a new computer system was installed to be 2000 compliant, not all data was copied across to the new computer system; therefore, only data from 2000 onwards is reliable. 2. Figures are rounded to nearest 5. 3. Because of rounding figures may not add up to totals shown.